On a Higher Note

We went to see the Brigham City Temple and it was so much fun. I couldn't believe how good of an experience it turned out to be. I honestly thought Lyla Bug would have a rough time considering the lines and stuff. I will start from the beginning. So I called down to Maddox to get a dinner reservation and I was lucky enough to get a 5:15 time. So we  hurried to Brigham City and arrived at about 5:20, they were actually really cool about our being 5 minutes late.

We got right in and enjoyed the Weekday special at $13.45 per person. If you have had it before you know how excellent of a deal this is. We sat with Lyla in a sling and ate happily. Lyla sat quietly except for the occasional coo or bubble blowing. When we got up to leave, the guy sitting next to us commented "you have an extremely well behaved baby." I was actually really pleased to hear this as I normally walk into restaurants self-conscious of the "OH Great they have a BABY" stares. I said "Well thank you, we try." Which was kind of hilarious because she is 4 months old and lets face it we are at her mercy:). To which he responded "She has a truly beautiful disposition." We were pretty proud:)

We arrived to the temple about a half hour before our reservation time. But we figured we would go anyway, since our little well behaved baby was still behaving. We probably only stood in line for like 20 minutes and then got in to the video. I really tried to watch it, but Lyla's adorable cuteness was kind of distracting. Brett wanted to carry her around in the baby-go carrier which was nice, cuz she may still be little but she gets pretty heavy, quick. Once we got into the temple she started to snooze and Brett and I just enjoyed seeing the rooms and stuff. She woke up again just before the Celestial room and it was so fun to watch her. She just sat with her little fists holding onto Brett's shirt and leaned back into the carrier and starred at the ceiling. Her eyes were so wide, and she was so peaceful. I loved watching Brett watch her, and loved having my whole little family in a temple together. It will be a while until that can happen again.

Here I sit watching my little 4 month old Lyla Bug roll around doing 180s on her play mat. I can't get enough of watching her figure out how to grab toys, and study her hands. I also love how hard she tries to get both of those chubby little fists into her mouth. 

I have to tell this story too.. I hosted my bunco group on Thursday evening, and I totally underestimated how much time it would all take. Let's face it in my event planning I normally don't prepare all the food too:). Anyways, my sweet husband got home from work and quickly noticed how far behind I was. He just washed his hands and jumped right in with me. I was still a little late, but it was because I was still rolling out tortillas - You can't have COLD tortillas that just has to be done last;) Then after everyone had served up, I was still feverishly rolling out tortillas. Brett told me to just dish up and he would take care of the rest. I felt so bad, but I really did want to go down and eat with the girls. By the time I came up to serve dessert, he had done all the dishes and put out serving bowls and forks for me. If that wasn't sweet enough I walked in to see that he had already bathed, fed and put Lyla to sleep. He may not be a completely hopeless romantic, but he sure does love his girls. He takes such good care of us and I just love our life!   
  

Tired of Being Tossed

I promise no soap box here, I just have to be frank...

The views of one man with a camera do not reflect the views of a nation. This one man isn't even willing to stand behind his own work, and fess up. I am so tired of small-minded people making irresponsible moves and painting a picture for the mass of people who don't see it that way. Social Media gives us a hidden power to lift up our voices and give a more accurate representation of how we feel as a nation. Stop allowing life to just happen to you. We have been given the power to effect change quickly, and more accurately. Push for peace by sharing how you feel, we are the innocent mass that will be punished for the actions and ideas of a minority. Use the tools given to you to determine your own reality.

I am referring to the anti-Muslim film that supposedly stirred up the trouble in Libya. I will be the first to tell you, I can't stand politics. There is this dirty dishonest feeling I get anytime I get to embroiled in it, so I am not going to start getting all political in my posts or anything.  But the politics of the nation have an affect on my "Utopia," so I have to say something.

I am so tired of being tossed by the waves that are created by hateful, and ignorant people. I know this is probably going to be viewed as an, "innocent notion," to think that we can fix something by saying how we feel on our social media avenues. Is it so crazy though? Here we are given the task of choosing a President that will have the back bone, and skill to dig us out of this horrible economy. Really, how much can the government do? How fast can they change this? Who really has the power to effect this change? We do. I am referring to the "We" of the world who don't hold political positions. These are not issues that involve only the United States. Social Media allows the house moms, grocery store checkers, students, factory workers, salespeople, network marketing business builders - THE gray "middle class." If the middle class is the biggest percentage then why are we not able to actually change the way things are going?

I earned a degree in Public Relations and Communications in College. However, I feel like the bulk of my classes were how to responsibly and professionally represent my cause, it seemed like for the most part we already had access to most of the tools we needed to access the general public. So, why aren't more of us effecting the change?

I titled this post tired of being tossed. I meant to say I am tired of feeling like one little grain of sand getting tossed in the waves of an ocean. The direction my life is decided by a wave of people unaware of the power we hold. When will we start to determine our own direction. I am not saying I am going to branch out and be a lone grain of sand, after all I am not going anywhere if I don't have the wave of water to travel in. I am saying, we need to DECIDE what direction we want our wave (community, state, nation...) to go in and move it ourselves.

Big Changes!

So I decided to just combine all the big changes in the same post. Ok, there is really only a few changes.

COLORADO! My sweet family that has lived in Grantsville forever made the big move to Colorado. It was a must as my Dad was given a job offer he could not refuse. I am so proud of my Dad. He has always worked soo hard to provide for our family, and his hard work is finally paying off at work to, as his superiors see his value and want to capitalize on his skills. However, it is extremely difficult for me to watch them go. They have been gone for a little over a month now. And I am really starting to feel the distance. I probably call an annoying amount, just to hear what is going on. I know they were like 2 hours away before, so its not like they were right next door. But it is still kind of depressing. We went down to Grantsville to see my cousins, and it was so much fun to see everyone, but sad that my parents and siblings weren't there close by. My Dad is doing awesome in his new job, and I think he is enjoying Colorado. My mom is looking for a new job and unpacking the house. Levi is getting interviews and missing his friends back home, but he has such a positive outlook on the move and on life. Ivy is LOVING her new school and from what I hear making new friends. It's insane to me that my little brother and sister are as big as they are, but I am excited to see where they go and what they do with their lives.

My BUSINESS! I attended an Arbonne business retreat 2 weeks ago, and it was soo good. I am amazed at how well the products work, and even more amazed at how positive and motivational the company is. I was soo skeptical about the products, when I began using them about 4 years ago. But now I can't go without them. My skin looks and feels the best it has ever been and just continues to improve. And I have loved using the vitamins and vegan protein shakes while losing the baby weight. I can't believe how good I feel. It is so refreshing to know what is in my products and why they work so well. I am excited at the prospect of improving the lives of others, while sharing these products and growing my business.

OUR MOVE! We are in the process of buying a home in Millville, and selling our townhouse in Logan. It is a killer time for interest rates and a good time for us to move financially. We have LOVED our townhouse and I am actually sad to leave it, but the Millville home will be great too as our family grows and changes. If anyone is looking or knows someone looking for a great comfortable 3 story town home just a few blocks from campus, right in the heart of Logan check out or blog loganlexingtontownhouse.blogspot.com see pictures, and get more information on all the special features our townhouse has to offer. Picture of the townhouse:

Finished basement (we use as a theater room) and a gas FIREPLACE (warm, and snuggly at the flip of a switch for those cold Logan nights:))

In other news my husband is turning 31 in a couple days, I want to test out a pinterest recipe I found for toasted marshmallow coconut ice cream. The only hiccup I need to get an ice cream maker... O well it could be his birthday present right? My baby girl is 4 months next week, and I cannot believe that much time had past since she joined our family, she is soo big now and she is such a joy in our family. Just because this is the cutest pic yet :) in her jeggings driving Daddy's truck.

   

BABY!!!!!

I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged last. I will be better from now on. I am basically getting a new kick start on life I decided :). LYLA ROSE ERICKSON came on May 25th, 2012. She was 7lbs. 5 oz. and it was the best day of our lives so far. Those of you who know me well, know that means I was in labor on the evening of my Birthday. That is totally okay, it was the best present I could ever receive. However, my sweet hubby picked up a birthday basket full of my favorite things (Riddle Skittles, Twix bars, Comfy flip-flops, bite size cheese cakes and a love letter;). We went out to dinner with our good friends (Alyson, Andy, Mike, & Kristen) at Olive Garden. We laughed and chatted until Brett and I got the green light to head into the hospital for my induction. I was sooo grateful to my friend Joslin for talking me through dos and don'ts for an induction (I basically talked to her for like an hour and a 1/2). So I was pretty prepared and not really nervous just soo excited. I love how everyone tells you to sleep as much as you can in the hospital... WHAT a JOKE;). I was so sleep deprived by the time she got here, it took about 22 hours, but once I started pushing she came in about a half an hour. She had meconium issues and the minutes before she really started crying were probably the longest of my life. Brett was by my side every step of the way and when they finally placed her in my arms, I looked into her face and then into my sweet husbands and I knew that my life was truly blessed. I thank the Lord every day for blessing me with my unbelievably sweet husband and daughter.

The days that followed are still a blur. I probably got about 24 hours combined between the 4 or 5 nights after her birth. I remember learning to nurse was a big struggle, but we eventually figured it out. The night my milk came in I was freaking out, sleep deprivation, a stressed out crying baby, weird birthing side effects, and a pups rash accompanied rock hard chest that hurt like the dickens. My mother-in-law Bonnie stayed at our house that night and helped me out like a guardian angel. I was soo grateful for her help, and level headedness.

Lyla is now a little over 14 weeks old, and she weighs almost 15lbs. She was 90th percentile for weight and height at our last doctor's appointment. I HATE Pediatrician appointments. They stick my baby every time with multiple shots and it is the worst experience for her and I. I know it is for her benefit, but I just hate it.

I have absolutely loved watching Brett become a father. He is such a good daddy, he helps soo much with Lyla and he is completely wrapped around her teeny little finger. The other day he was just talking to her and she was laughing soo hard. I ran in from the kitchen to see it, Brett was laughing soo hard I thought he was going to cry. I ran in to grab the camera to record it and 5 minutes later when she stopped laughing as much, I realized I hadn't pressed the extra button required to get the camera recording. I am soo dumb, it would have been one for the record books. I am in the process of losing the baby weight now. I lost about 30 lbs. in Lyla and water, about 2 wks after the birth, then I had about 20 lbs. to go to get back to my pre-baby weight. I have finally gotten down 10 more lbs. in 3 months and it has been a fight, so I have about 10 more lbs. to go... but if I could lose a little more that wouldn't hurt either;)