8 year celebration

Aaron and I love to celebrate things, ok maybe I love to celebrate things and Aaron has since adopted my way of things. We love any excuse to celebrate, our wedding anniversary is no different. We have tried to celebrate by going to San Francisco. It is I think one of my most favorite family traditions. Last year we went to Hawaii, so I guess I am open for new places, however there is something about going to San Fran that is just the best. I think I am going to have to insist that we continue this tradition!!! We hit up all our favorite places and revisit memories, make new ones and even go to new places. This year was the best because it was just like old times except for this time we had Vivian.

We drove there, left at 4 am Thursday. Vivian was amazing and didn't wake up until 8 (just like clockwork that little one I tell you what). So we fed her and let her stretch her legs a bit at an amazingly classy rest stop (ok that is an overstatement, is there such thing as a classy rest stop? This one was even offering massages, I will let your imagination finish the rest it offered.) We then stopped in Lafayette on the way in to hit up Bo's BBQ. Aaron's most favorite. It did not disappoint at all. We even got a special visit from Bo himself and he gave Aaron one of his nicest cigars to celebrate our little Viv (don't worry it was soon after thrown away without Bo knowing, couldn't really say no to Bo.)




We then got back on the road and made it to SF just in time to miss a 4.1 earthquake...we were in the car at the time so we didn't even feel it, probably driving down Lombard street at that moment. We got unpacked and then made our way to the Ferry Building. The best place ever. Even when it is not the farmers market it is the best. There are little shops of FOOD...ALL FOOD. So amazing.




That night we turned in early to get ready for our big weekend.

Friday we got up and headed to IKE'S to pick up our sandwiches...one word AMAZING!!! Then kept on our way to head down to Half Moon Bay. We went to Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch and it was super cute. A real farm with the real man himself there.






We then drove to Maverick's to check out the spot where all the great big wave surfers have been. I hit the jackpot that day cause on our way to Maverick's I got mixed up in the side streets and ran a stop sign. We got pulled over. Don't you worry I couldn't find my license and our registration was up in September. I was such a mess rummaging through all of our stuff trying to find our info that I think the police officer felt bad so he let us off. Not one ticket. The stop sign ticket alone was $400!!! Then on top of that the driving without a license (left on table in the apartment). Yikes that would have been a hefty price tag to deal with that ticket.

So off to Maverick's we went and walked on the beach. I of course looked for treasure and found some great shells for Vivian. Another tradition is I always collect a couple shells from every beach we go to. I have a pretty awesome collection!!!




We then headed back through Pacifica (the coolest town on the coast EVER) and hit up Golden Gate Park. We strolled around the park while Viv took another not so shabby of a view nap then we went to the Academy of Sciences. Yup we are big kiddos at heart and loved every minute of it. We had been before but couldn't pass up going again and of course had to start Vivian young at her education.





This is what Viv had to say at the end of the day. Aaron and I were just talking on the bed and next thing we know Viv is passed out. So we let her take a cat nap for 15 minutes before we bathed and put to sleep. Stinkin cute right?



Saturday started off with a morning at the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. The most amazing Farmer's Market ever. Ok so I love SLC market and always compare every FM to that one, but this one is even better I dare say. It is HUGE. Goes all around the Ferry Building, behind it and it is right on the water. There were tons of U fans everywhere and I made a point to yell "GO UTES" to everyone I saw wearing U gear.




It was then off to the U game for us. Aar had to head down early to pick up our new tickets (yup left ours at home so stub hub credited back the money to us and we got even better tickets at more than half the price, will use STUB HUB again in the future after this incident for sure). Vivian and I headed off to the game walking along the piers all the way to ATT park (Where the Giants play). We met up with dad and got ready to cheer for our Utes. They were sad that day, awful in fact and we were sad that Viv saw them playing so poorly. But we had a great time and it was fun being at the park with Viv!!!



We ended the night by walking home along the piers once again that were all lit up and enjoyed the view of the Bay Bridge at night. While we walked Aaron and I held hands and pushed the stroller while we discussed how fortunate we are and how happy we are to have Viv in our lives and how much we love our family!!! It was a great moment for sure.

Sunday 5 am we headed home back to our doggies who were in great care with our friends the Hunt's and the Raver's.

It was the perfect weekend and having Aaron all to ourselves all weekend was amazing. It made me so excited for future vacations as a family.

10 fingers ... the simple Joys

Thought it would be good to start the week off right by listing 10 simple joys in my life in honor of Vivian's hands finding each other last week. A simple, yet AMAZING, thing for a baby to discover. She often will fall asleep holding her hands or rubbing them together. It is so stinkin sweet!!!

10 Simple Joys in no particular order

1. Coconut Milk products
In my quest to be off dairy, soy, nuts, wheat, eggs, caffeine and chocolate I am DYING for food. Coconut milk is helping it not be so hard. Don't be fooled it is TOUGH, have you ever noticed how much soy is in all that we eat? Anyway coconut milk and coconut milk ice cream is amazing and starts my day off right with an awesome coconut milk and fruit smoothie and ends my day right with a few spoonfuls of ice cream. It is no secret how much I LOVE good food and this diet restriction for my lil one is killing me!!!

2. Having the blessing and opportunity to be home with Vivian
While not what I would totally classify as "simple" it is a joy that I can't stop being happy about. If I were working my maternity leave would be over and I would be returning to work and leaving my lil one. While I can't wait to get back to work at the right time I am so extremely happy to have the opportunity to be home with her everyday. It is a tough job of course that is demanding and tiring some days, but is AMAZING in everyway. I know my girl as good as one can know anything and it is so gratifying to know that I can be with her and that Aaron has been blessed with a job that can take care of our family without stressing me to get back to work and bring home some bacon.

3. Hearing Vivian breathe
I love when I can hear her heavy breathing in her sleep. It is so sweet and assures me she is off in dreamland peacefully.

4. Getting ready ready.
Like a shave, hair done, make up and all!!! Feels so great...a bubble bath is not too bad either.

5. Pull through parking spot
This one never gets old and we love when we get one. We always think of gpa Steenblik as he liked pull through parking spots too.

6. People ooing and awing at Vivian
This one I am betting will never get old. I love it!!! Our neighbor at least once a day totally oos at her when we are outside and is so cute. All the girls in Young Women's love her too. They come up to her and smile at her and just get so excited to see her and of course say how cute she is, which they aren't lying.

7. Instagram
New favorite obsession. I like way more than facebook and blogging. I really am a visual person so it is perfect for me and I love to see the adventures of others!!! Not on it? Get on it NOW. Then of course tell me so I can follow you.

8. Serving in our church
Not that this would surprise anyone but really I love serving in the church. I love being a part of ward, integrated and all. I love working with others and being busy. I have always found serving in the church is so great. While it can easily feel sometimes like an obligation I have found when we look at it as an opportunity and a joy our attitude changes dramatically. It is so great to be back in Young Women's, while of course I wouldn't say no to any calling, YW is my most favorite. I also feel that when we serve in the church our connections to our ward family increase and it really becomes a genuine family of people who you care for and who in return care for you.

9. Netflix
I love jumping in bed when Vivian is asleep and turning on our computer and getting our show (FNL right now) cued and cuddling and watching it together. I am now understanding why people get into shows when they have a baby...if baby goes to bed around 8 then that leaves a few hours in the evening to play at home.

10. Foggy mornings and nights
I love when the marine fog rolls in. It is so cozy and comfy. It makes me so happy. I love taking Viv on a walk when it is foggy. We snuggle our bodies so close in the Ergo Baby (that could be a post of itself, don't have it get it, it will change your world with a kiddo) and just stroll to the beach, along the beach or harbor and it is the best!

Happy Monday and don't forget to recognize your joys!!!

FHE ideas

What do you like to do for Family Home Evening?

After listening to Uchtdorf's talk from RS broadcast last week I started to think about all the simple and easy things we can do as a family for our Family Home Evening activities.

Aaron and I usually are all for keeping things low key and we like to remember the whole purpose of FHE...to be with your family and to strengthen your love for each other and the gospel. I feel like sometimes Aaron and I can be anti social, not really anti social, but more into hanging as a family than with others. We love being together after he has been gone all day/week at work. In any given week we are known to go on at least 5 strolls together whether it be at the beach, the harbor, on trails, etc. We find a lot of joy in being together outside with our family. However am up for new ideas of activities to do for our FHE.

This last week we met up with a few couples and just hung out at the beach for sunset for our FHE and it was perfect. I always enjoy a good time with people who share similar values and beliefs as I do. I feel like it strengthens my testimony even more.

I am thinking cooking may be a new thing I consider FHE as Aaron and I both love to be in the kitchen and we have fun when we are doing it. As Viv gets older we can all do it together and make a special yummy treat.

Hmmmmm any other ideas. What do you like to do for FHE?

Need a pick me up?

Do you just love the light in my eyes? My mom and dad can't get enough of me. Can you?

I am babbling and smiling a ton these days and my mom and dad don't do much other than just stare at me and snuggle with me. If you ever need a pick me up in your day just check out my mug and I promise it will brighten your day.

Missoni Madness and FNL

Are you as in love with the line for target as I am? I am obsessed and just love staring at it all the items, even all the out of stock stuff. It is just so pretty looking and funky. Just my style.

I am in love and at the same time so sad that I couldn't get my hands on more.

I ordered a tankini online that they still had and am going to be checking out stores in my area for more but man all I can say is dangit!!! So bummed.

I can't believe it was sold out in just a few hours. Had I been thinking clearly and not in my Friday Night Lights daze I would have gone early and stood in line for when the store opened.

That brings me to my next thought FNL!!! Loving it. Aaron and I are totally into it and are stoked to have another series to watch and love together. Kind of an issue though as we end up staying up late watching it not knowing when Vivian will sound the alarm next to eat. Thankfully she is pretty consistently sleeping from 8pm or so until 5am or later (knock on some wood for me), but we still take things day by day and have no expectations of her so I still feel like we are being risky staying up so late. But it's fun how excited we get when she goes to sleep, we get ready for bed and run into the bedroom, load up the netflix and just watch watch watch until one of us finally calls it quits.

Vivian's Special Day

How has time gone by so fast that we were the people blessing our baby at church this past Sunday? This time last year we were getting ready for our first round of infertility treatments and while we felt super hopeful I was the saddest I can ever remember. Now 1 year later we have a 2 month old. Overwhelmed with gratitude to say the least.

We chose to do the blessing in LA in the Westwood 2 ward. We always thought that's where she would be blessed and that ward honestly has been the most amazing ward we have ever been and couldn't imagine doing it anywhere else. There were so many who came to support us and see Vivian be blessed, friends from the 1 and 2 wards along with friends we made in LA, OC and our families. It was perfect!!!

Aaron gave her such a sweet blessing and focused on what I thought was so important, the attributes that she will need to succeed in life, in the gospel and as a woman. In the circle was Aaron, Bill, Gerrit, Nate, Jake, Matt, Jeremy, Tony, JayBird, Millard, Taylor and Mason.

Vivian was a dream all day. We woke her up at 6 so we could feed and drive to LA in time to get ready and settled. Aaron held her the entire time as I wanted him to already have her comfy and I felt like it was a special day for him and I just wanted him to have all the bonding and sweet time with her on that day. She slept the entire meeting in his arms and it was so sweet to see him just stare at her the whole time.

After the blessing we were able to visit with friends and the YW in the ward. Such a treat. Then we drove back home to relax a bit before family came over for dinner.

Measuring success

Since becoming a mom I have thought a lot about and been faced with the MEASURING STICK. Not the measuring stick we used in school or the one I use on myself but the societal measuring stick. I have to be honest I think we should throw it out. I have always hated the whole "keep up with the joneses" type of stuff that goes on in the world. Until I had Vivian I felt like I was able to stay away from the measuring stick of life pretty well. Aaron and I just tried to beat to our own drum and while at times we started to do the good old compare and contrast with others we, for the most part, have been able to not get caught up in this too much. However now that we have Vivian I feel like the measuring stick is being placed on us and I can't stand it, in fact I hate it.

Why is it that the first question someone now asks me is

"How long does Vivian sleep at night?"

Do you really care how well my baby sleeps? Honestly does it matter much to you? Or is it more about the good old compare and contrast game that gets played?

It is almost as if people placed judgement on me as a mom (and other moms) or as a person based on how well my/their baby sleeps, eats, naps, sticks to a schedule, self soothes etc. When in reality none of that stuff matters...NOT ONE BIT.

Now it just so happens that Vivian sleeps like a rock, eats probably way too much food (she is already 12 lbs...total chunk), naps well, goes to bed at a consistent time each night, isn't fussy, and is pretty much a dream of a baby. However what if she weren't? What if she woke up every hour screaming? What if she had to be rocked everytime she needed to sleep (check it out studies actually show that rocking a baby has many developmental benefits)? What if she were a total thumb sucker? Or how about what if she screamed bloody murder all day long? Would any of those things reflect anything about me as a mom or as person? Or what about Vivian would any of those things make someone think negatively about my baby?

I think the cat and mouse, keep up with the joneses, and good old compare and contrast game is an easy one to fall into and I am doing my best to not be affected by it, however it is like everyday someone asks one of those measuring questions, waits for my response and then proceeds to respond with their opinion and feelings and it drives me bananas!!!

In my opinion the only thing that matters is how well I teach my child the gospel, prepare her for the world and instill a strong sense of identity as a daughter of God. All that other stuff is just fluff, not relevant at all. I understand people are just trying to find common things to discuss however we all know that the questions are loaded and the answers given carry major reactions with them.

Of course there are the good old parenting debates that come up to, you know the ones I am talking about

Do you breastfeed or bottlefeed?

Does your baby suck thumb or use pacifier?

Do you let your baby cry it out?

Does your baby sleep in your room? What about your bed?

All of this stuff just doesn't matter. How about we let people raise their kids how they want to. How about we not give our opinions so freely and quickly to others. There is not ONE right way to do things in life. Everyone does things the way they feel is best for them.

It's easy to say that the hardest thing about becoming a mom thusfar has not been taking care of Vivian it has been dealing with all these things, the opinions given without invitation, the measuring stick, and such. I think it may be a girl thing because guys don't care about any of this. Can girls please be a bit more like guys?