Easter

It's the night before Easter and I can't wait for tomorrow morning. I almost feel like it's Christmas! I've never been so excited for Easter before...but this year it seems more special than the years passed.

It's my first Easter as a Mom...As all Mother's know, your perspective changes a LOT when that little baby enters your life, and I think one of the biggest ways I've been changed is by my perspective on the atonement. There have been so many times that I look at my baby, and my heart is overflowing with joy because I know that the Savior lived and died for him. Hunter has changed my life in so many ways, but I honestly think that this is one of the best ways that he has changed me.

Growing up I never understood what Easter was about. I knew about the little marshmallow Peeps candys, jelly beans, the Easter Bunny, etc. but I never knew the real meaning of Easter. Because of this, I have decided that I'm not going to have the tradition of having my kids take pictures with the Easter Bunny. When I told this to Michael, he brought up the point of Santa Claus, and I was ready for that. Christmas, in my opinion, is easier to understand than Easter. I don't think that Santa can cloud the Christmas holiday as much as the Easter Bunny can. Santa at least gave to others by bringing them gifts, but what does the Easter Bunny offer? Now don't get me wrong, there can be a fun side to Easter. I did get Hunter a little basket, but I put his first "Easter" book in it, along with some other fun baby stuff, but he's still little. I may be contradicting myself by having an Easter basket, but there's the small fun stuff I still want to do. I've just decided that actually taking a trip to the Easter Bunny doesn't have any benefit to teaching my children about the true meaning of Easter. Now, if you take yours kids to the Easter Bunny, don't worry I won't judge you! hahaha I think my decision has a lot to do with how I understood Easter as a child.

Tomorrow, my dear, sweet friend Ginger Olsen and I are singing in church. We are singing the song "O, Lord My Redeemer". If you have not heard this song, you have to! (Below) It's the first time I've sung in church since I've had Hunter, and I'm hoping to make it through the song. Music has such a special place in my heart and how grateful I am to be able to share it, especially when I'm singing about something as sacred as Easter. I will never feel worthy enough to sing about something as special as the atonement, but I'm going to try my best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDjjxJDc0Xs&feature=related

Oh and I'm really excited because I'm starting the tradition of all of us matching as a family. I know of a few families that match every Sunday, and I think it's so cute! But due to my lack of Sunday clothes, Michael and I wouldn't be able to do that but I thought that at least once a year we can go to church wearing the same colors and looking like twinners. I got him his first little Easter suit and I can't wait to dress him in it tomorrow! Ya...I know, I treat him like my little dolly, but I can't help it! It's SO fun!

How grateful I am to know what Easter is all about...and as I say that, I still feel like there is so much more to learn about the atonement and what it really means. I've been looking forward to this day when all the Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the most important event that happened in the history of man...and I am eternally grateful.

Happy Easter everyone! He is risen!

Life as a Mommy

For a while I've been wanting to write about my life as a "Mommy"...

I've now been living the "Mommy" life for about 8 months now and it is Heaven. While I was pregnant, I tried to picture what it would be like, but it was too hard to imagine. I knew it would be great, but that's about it. I wondered how I would feel not working, not always running around from place to place (well, I still kinda do that) and having to slow down a little bit. As long as I could remember I have been living life in the fast lane. School, work, rehearsals, teaching, directing, shows...it's like the list never ended...

My life right now...I teach about 30 wonderful students voice and piano, I've started a "Fun With Music" class that I teach here at my house once a week (I have bigger plans for that in the future!) I'm still doing some parties/wedding/showers on the side, working for the Town of Apple Valley "part" time, feeding my creative outlet by performing and doing crafts (it sounds so old fashioned, but I LOVE paper! hehe), being a good (or decent haha) house wife by cleaning, cooking, loving etc. and the best part...being a MOM. I guess that still sounds like a lot, but my life really has slowed down!

I spend most of my day just being at home...some days I don't even leave the house! (Well...that's partly because I have students coming to me all day) but I still wouldn't change a thing. Before I was Mom, I couldn't even remember the last time I had a whole day to just be at home. I remember thinking to myself, I can't wait for the day when I get to wake up and think, "All I have to do today is take care of my little boy." Those days have finally come and it's a dream...if I could pick anything else in the world...I wouldn't. This is it.

I love putting everything side and playing with my special little boy. Sometimes he attacks my face, and I could care less that my face ends up covered in slobber, and my hair all messed up. He usually throws up on me once a day, gets crabby whens he's tired, has hated going to sleep in his own bed, but he smiles, laughs, plays, loves his bath time, loves to explore, is curious...he's my little prince...he's perfect. Life as a Mommy...perfect.

Operation: Crib

So for a the past few months I've been dreading putting Hunter in his own bed...because he's been sleeping in our bed pretty much from day one. He'd go in his bassinet every now and then, but he'd always want to nurse at night and so it made it difficult to get him out of our bed. When he turned six months I knew that it was time to let him grow up and for Mommy to let him go.

Once the holidays were over, and sleep overs at Grandma and Grandpa's were through, "Operation: Crib" was ready to be started.

Reasons why I did NOT look forward to starting "Operation: Crib"

• I've heard quite a few horror stories about Mom's going through hours of their baby's crying it out. Or they learned how to pull themselves up, and then they couldn't figure out how to lay back down so they just cried and cried.
• The idea of not having him RIGHT next to me on the nights that Michael is gone REALLY freaked me out.
• The kid LOVES to nurse! 9 times out of 10 he'd nurse himself to sleep. He won't take a binky, he won't suck his thumb, but you better believe that he will nurse!!! I was afraid I'd created a nursing monster and that he wouldn't be able to sleep without me.
• I did not expect it to be easy or go well...there have been nights where he'd scream and scream when it came time for bed, and he was sleeping with us!
• I was afraid that maybe he'd wake up wanting to eat, and I'd have to nurse him (not that I don't like nursing...but sleep at night is nice too, especially since I don't take naps)
• I was going to miss the hours of snuggling all night long. (You know how babies pretty much look like angels when they sleep, well it was so nice to just open my eyes and see his little angelic face.)

Well, the first night I started at about 7pm, and the bedtime routine was set.

• Bath time (packed full of bath toys, and his que to know that bath time is over is kissing his little bath friends goodbye and goodnight!)
• Jam Jam time (along with a mini baby massage, and his Disney lullaby CD starts to play)
• Bottle and "The Big Hungry Bear"
• A little nursing time and scripture reading.
• Bedtime prayers and then ni-night! (in bed by about 7:45. His mobile makes rainforest sounds and I leave on his lullaby CD until it runs out.)

I planned it all out, and that first night I hoped that it would all run smoothly and then we'd both be able to make the transition. Well...I did a little more than just hope...while I was getting him ready (and crying a little ha ha) I prayed for a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father. I prayed that Hunter would be okay, get a good night sleep, and basically be that good baby that every mother wishes for, and my prayer was answered. I love the times in my life when I ask for things that are somewhat simple, and may not be all that important, but Heavenly Father knew what I needed that night. I was granted one of the best tender mercy's I have ever received and I am indeed grateful. Since then Hunter has slept in his crib and it has been five days. He'll wake up once, maybe twice, but all I have to do is turn on his mobile and rub his little belly and then he'll fall back asleep. I found this to be pretty amazing for my little guy. He's not always the easiest baby, so when everything went so smoothly, I definitely knew it was because I prayed so hard!

I'm grateful for the wonderful six months that I got to spend with my little boy right by my side every single night, but I knew this time had to come and it's better for the both of us. It's a good thing he looks so cute in his little crib, and that I love him in his little room that I've decorated with such care, because that makes it a little easier to put him in there.

Operation: Crib has been a success, and although I miss my little guy, we both get a good night's sleep and it had to happen sooner or later. So all you Mom's out there that might be struggling with this situation, I wish you sincere luck! It's not always easy, but we just gotta do it! (=

BTW Being a Mom is by far the best thing in the world!!!