Is it spring yet?

It's funny the things life does to you. For instance, coming home tonight from shopping I realized my house is empty, how sad. Where if this was to have happened a couple of years ago I would have been happy to enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sad or depressed. I am feeling good. I've been working on my resolutions, yes statistically New Years resolutions only last until the end of February. But really, it think I'm gonna stick with it. I must admit that choking down my own advice has been the hardest!
  It's been an uneventful January so far. Just working and trying to keep my head above water. I'm starting to think that maybe being single isn't so bad. What's wrong getting to know yourself again? Though the rule the world, concur my demons feelings have faded and left me soul searching but at the same time, I have an inner peace I haven't felt for a very long time, if ever. I am excited to start moving forward, knowing that I have some things to work on. But being able to "label" or recognize the issue has been liberating and helped me know how to better deal with it.

 Lucy has been sick on and off for the past couple weeks. Got to love daycare! I've started paying more attention to what she is saying and wow she uses lots of sentences and words. I'm told to enjoy this stage where she doesn't talk back and takes direction well. It still surprises me when she does things I ask her. I asked her to go get a diaper the other day and she ran to her room came back grabbed one of her chairs, took it down to her room and got a diaper and wipes! She's pretty good at problem solving, though she will drop things and scream and point at them, till I tell her to pick it up, and then she will and be happy again...makes lots of sense...
This morning, Frank started to bite his back feet and she runs over next to him and says "I bit feet too" and stuck her foot in her mouth.
The best part was after her bath the other day she was dancing in the mirror saying "shake your booty"  I got some of it on video, until she noticed and came at me saying " I want see it"

 

 

January with Lucy

Its funny how a little 25 lb girl can fill my house. Lucy is the light and love in my life. I watch her and can't believe how big she is getting. She loves her babies. I love when she tucks them into her bed and turns her fan on for them to sleep. Or she will lay them out across the floor in my kitchen towels and put them to sleep or go down the row and feed them, asking them "want some?" I have to laugh when I look over at Frank in his basket and he is tucked in with a towel.
Some mornings she comes into my room calling "wake up mama! Outside Frank!" When the Christmas tree was up she would run into the front room saying "tree on!" She loves Christmas lights.
She has diffidently learned the magic of please, Though she uses it only when she really wants something.
My favorite story this month was when Lucy found a figure skater ornament and she ran up to me and said "it's a mommy!" So funny
I love to listen to her sing. She is so happy, and it surprises me how many songs she has learned.
I am constantly surprised by how much she understands. The other day she asked me for a snack and I told her she had to put her chairs back by her table and then I would get her a snack. I turned around and she put one away and was coming back for the other one.
I am also not so sure how to handle the 2's stage. There are times she will just lay on the floor and cry, and I will have no idea what or why she is crying about. I will be happy when she learns just a few more words can tell me.

Happy New Year!

Good bye 2013, you were a year of pain, new beginnings and growth. I have learn lots and hope that I got the lessons clearly because I don't want to be taught them again.
Since I have always believed that you only start a year with people that you want to end it with, I celebrated with a party of one. Because I'm pretty sure, I'm gonna be here next year.
Happy 2014! I have decided that this is my year, no matter what anyone else says. It's going to be a good year. I am not afraid of being by myself, I am OK with my thoughts. Seems like the voices in my head are getting along well, these days. Though they agree that they have some changing to do. I was told along time ago that if you share your resolutions, you are more likely to stick with them since the accountability factor goes up. So here it goes

 My resolutions are

I will learn to let go of things that weigh me down. Simply because they are getting to heavy or hurt too much.
I will remember that I have no control of other peoples choices, and even when it effects my life. I still choose how it effects me 
I will have no regrets this year, just lessons learned
I will run 2 half marathons (even if it kills me)
I will take time to slow down and enjoy where I am in life
I will be myself, I often mold myself to who ever I am around out of fear of rejection, but from now on-I will be me.
I will choke down my own advice
I will stop pushing people away, and learn to accept help
I will rededicate myself to my callings and responsibilities I have let slip.
I will stress less...hahahaha...I'll try

I am excited to see how much Lucy will grow this year. Its fun to look back at pictures and remember what she was doing last year compared to this year. And it just keeps getting better.

Onward and upward we go, can't wait to see what I'm doing this time next year.

Christmas

Merry Christmas!
Christmas was a little different this year. I worked Christmas Eve and Lucy went to her Dads house for the day so we opened her presents that night. She was rather excided about her cot! Silly kid.  We put cookies out for Santa, but I'm not sure she got the concept. Even when she found the empty plate and toy...Katie flew in from Texas on Christmas day. I picked her up from the airport and we headed to the salon to make her more beautiful. We realized I hadn't done her hair since I was in school and she wanted to see how almost 10 years of experience had improved my mad hair skills. And I think I passed the test, She look good when we were done :)
After picking up Lucy from her Dads house. We made our way down to Kimberly to Tasha's house, and waited for the rest of the crew to join us the next day. We had so much fun sledding and playing games. Mandi put together an awesome slide show of pictures and the kids put on the nativity scene and Mandi also played the violin for us.The best surprise was Kim's. Traditionally she makes us all awesome, homemade stockings. This year she did that and gave us one of my Dad's bears out of his huge collection. It made the weekend a little more special. The next day just the ladies were able to get away for some quality sister, sister time.
Not sure if I should include this, but this year has been a hard one. I feel like I have lost a lot. Being with my family made me realize how much I have. I missed a lot of events in the past, but I'm happy to know that there will be many, many more to see and support in the future. I love my crazy 3 ring circus family and can't imagine what it would be like if I didn't have you all. Thank you for all you do and loving me and Lucy.

Christmas on Temple Square

I know I keep saying this but wow this year has flown by. I wouldn't say it was one of my best years, but I can say that I am happier now than I was this time last year. Having the holidays so close. I haven't had time to stop and really get into the Christmas spirit, but the lights on temple square are always the trick for me.
It was a quick trip down to Utah. But we managed to fill it up with family. Korey and Tasha were nice enough and had room to let Lucy and I hop in with them, which made the drive lots better. Lucy was so good.
We got down there Saturday afternoon, went shopping and ice skating and then caught up with the rest of the group to see Santa, eat dinner and walk around temple square and down town a bit. Lucy didn't particularly enjoy Santa. and was pretty tired while we walked around to see the lights. But I think she enjoyed the lights.
Next morning we went up to visit Dad's grave. Its hard to believe its been two years.
In honor of Grandma Sells we made Christmas ornaments at Missy's house before heading home. Lucy sat quietly watching and then put a bunch of beads on needles like everyone else was doing. Tasha Helped her put them on her ornament. (smart little girl)

Lucys First Haircut

Cut Lucy's hair for the first time on the 4th. She sat so still and was so good. I took off 2 inches. I can't believe that it makes her look older. Little sassy girl.

Lucy in December

All I can say, is that Lucy keeps me on my toes! She is so busy. I have described her before as part ninja part tornado and I think that about sums it up.
She has figured out how to put pants on. And she likes to do it by herself. Lately I will dress her in a cute outfit, only to find her 5 mins later in different pants. Sometimes she doesn't bother taking off the other ones and just wears 2-4 pairs of pants! Today She ran up to me to tell me she was poopy, I took off 3 pairs of pants and 4 skirts!
She loves to sing and sings her own tune all the time. Same goes for the language, I can translate about 60% of what comes out of her mouth. The 40% I cant understand is always interesting and followed with expressive looks like I should know exactly what she is saying.
One of her favorite things to do, is pull all my kitchen towels out and tuck her babies and lambie  (sometimes Frank) in all over the place with them.
She is defiantly a all girl! Whenever we go shopping and pass a shoe department she gets excited and pulls her shoes off.
She also likes to wear my make up! It has begun, She got into my purse and my lipstick, after taking a bite out of it, "yuck, mom" she put some on her face and came and said "oo, pretty mom" When ever I get done doing her hair and changing her earing she says "oh'so pretty" and gives me the corniest little grin. She loves to brush her teeth too.
Lucy is starting to be a little nicer to Frank. Its funny because she will tell him to lay down and sit, and he just doesn't speak Lucy yet. She also tells him "outside potty frank" every morning and he just looks at me like really? I have to take orders from the pip squeak too?
Lucy seems to have developed a hollow leg, she eats so much! There have been a few times I look to see where Frank is or pick her up and look around her because I can't believe how much she ate and how quickly.
Its crazy how she learns peoples names, and how to copy me. But she is still content to paint or play with play dough. She takes directions really well, when I unload the dryer hand her kitchen towels to put away or she will throw things away for me.
I was making cupcakes and she was so excited, pointing and saying "cake, mmm, mom! cake!"
I think we are about to try the potty training thing again. She knows when she needs her diaper changed and even used the toilet a couple times in the mornings when we are home. She grabbed her jar of m and m's and said "to potty?" So its time to give it another go.
Went to the botanical gardens the other night and thought we were going to freeze to death! But the lights were pretty and the fire barrels amazing.