Down By The River

Sometimes you have a long couple of weeks and your husband comes home and says, "Let's forget everything and go to the river" and if you have any brains at all, you drop what you're doing and say "okay" and 7 minutes later you're on your way. This experience is extremely enhanced by purchasing 2 pairs of $5 sunglasses on the same day, and trying the pink ones on your 2 year old son. And should the "let's drop everything" thing and the sunglasses thing not be enough, one should arm said 2 year old son with a king size chocolate candy bar. And thus you will have the greatest day ever. While not what some doctors would have ordered, it's totally what this doctor ordered, and let's face it, I'm totally smart enough to be a doctor.

Five Years

While I was in Arizona spending time with my family, and while Collin was in Chicago working and getting ready for school to start, we had our 5th wedding anniversary. We celebrated as meaningfully as we could being across the country from each other and decided to celebrate once we were both back home in Chicago, which is what we did yesterday. Nolan got to play with friends all day and Collin and I explored the city, did a little shopping, had delicious Indian food for lunch, had a 2 hour nap, and ended up at the top of The Hancock Building for dinner. The food was good, but the view was amazing.

Being married to Collin for 5 years has been the best thing in the world. I'm so glad he's mine.

Swimming

This little guy and I went swimming with friends yesterday.
We had such a fun time.
It was amazing to see him try something new, warm up to it, and then go for it.
He's so full of wonder, curiosity, courage, and raw joy.
I love hanging out with him each day.
I love seeing him happy.
I love his appetite for anything good.
Mostly, I just love being his mommy.

Kind People

Sometimes I get so sick of hearing about all of the bad stuff that goes on this world. Like really, really sick of it. (Does that stop me from watching Law and Order? No way! It's the real-life, non-fiction, bad stuff that makes me sad.) I think we (okay, I) totally dwell on it too much, too. But the truth is, for every bad act, every misdeed, every troubled person, and every bad thing, there are 100 good things, good people, and good deeds. I have been SO fortunate and blessed to have been the recipient of so many acts of kindness and good deeds.

For example, shortly after we met our sweet birth mom, Kenz, I got an e-mail from the amazing Becki at Whippy Cake.

She told me how happy she was for us and said a million other sweet things, and then she gave both me AND Kenzi a hugely generous gift-card to Whippy Cake. I was stunned. And I think about that every day. Every time I walk past the sweet bows and headbands from Becki, I remember how good people are.

Just recently we were again blessed with an incredible act of kindness. You see, Nolan hasn't had a highchair and he's well...9 months old. So we've been putting him on a kitchen chair and tying him to the chair with one of my belts. (Please don't call CPS!! :)) It sounds worse than it was, and really it totally worked for us, it was no big deal, and Nolan sure didn't know any different. We tried not to complain, although Collin was better at that than I was, and we just went with it!

Then one day, my buzzer rang, I called downstairs, and it was the UPS man. I wasn't expecting a package but who says 'no' when somebody says they have a box for you?! Not me! So I ran downstairs, and saw a big box with Nolan's name on it. I was so excited, so I took it upstairs, called Nolan over and we started opening it. Inside was a highchair. A HIGHCHAIR!! I could NOT believe it. I was on the phone with my mom at the time, and we were both just in shock, and the most shocking thing of all? It was a totally anonymous gift. I researched for days trying to find somebody to say 'thank you' to but whoever this kind person was, went to great lengths to be anonymous!

That first day with the highchair was so special for us. (I know that sounds silly, it's just a highchair, but really, it was great.) Each time I'd walk past it I'd just cry and cry out of shear gratitude and awe at the kindness of somebody. And Nolan, bless his little heart, was in HEAVEN!! He had a tray, a cup-holder, and he was up high enough to see the world! AND he would sit long enough in the high chair for me to clean the kitchen, make dinner, unload the dishwasher, or whatever.

I don't know how we got so lucky, and so blessed, but we really have seen the hand of God in our lives through some amazingly generous and kind people.

We still have no idea who sent us that highchair, but if that person is reading this,

THANK YOU!! You will never know how much it meant to us that you saw a need, and fulfilled it. That you were kind enough to think of us. That you gave us a gift that is way more than just a highchair. And that you did so, so humbly, without wanting thanks or attention. THANK YOU!!

Now, it's my goal, my job, my responsibility, and I know it will be my pleasure, to find ways I can be the giver, the server, and the one to give love to somebody else.

Happy Wednesday!

P.S. Thank you so so so much for all of your help with the upcoming gala!

It's Friday, I'm In Love

The INCREDIBLE Tiffany took some photos of Nolan a little while back. I just recently got to see the finished product and I am so in love with how she captured my little guy and the love I have for him.

Thanks so much Tiffany!! {See the whole set here. And if you live anywhere near Chicago, book her!}

This weekend is one I've looked forward to for quite some time because I have...wait for it...NOTHING on my calendar! In our future I see:

A trip to H&M to find some jeans and boots for Nol (We lost a pair of jeans and a boot this week. Don't ask, because I don't have an answer.)

Season 2 of Downton Abbey

Lots of ice cream

Pajamas and white onesies

A low-key, at home, Redbox date with my love

Eating what's left of an enormous box of Arizona oranges (Thanks ma and pa Smith!)

And (if I'm lucky) some Thai food to go along with that Redbox movie

I hope you all have a really great weekend!

Happy Friday!

Nolan-9 months

I can not believe it's been 9 months since Nolan was placed in our arms.
They have most certainly been the best 9 months of our lives.

At 9 months, Nolan has a few tricks:

He likes:
stopping the draining water in the tub with his bum
going on walks
singing songs
watching mama make bread (he loves the mixer)
seeing the record play go around and around
tickles
reading books
crawling around with toys in his mouth like a puppy dog
dancing and moving when music comes on

He has 6 teeth
He wears size 18-24 month clothes
He weighs around 25 pounds


He says:
mama
dadda
bubba
yay
patty-cake (in a jumbled, yet some how decipherable way)

He signs:
more
drink
all done
up
want

He's learning:
not to spit
to fold his arms for prayers
'thank you'
to walk

Dear Nolan,

What an honor, blessing, and privilege it is to be your mama. You make life so full, so fun, and so wild! You can make any day brighter, and any moment happier. You've taught me so much about love. Thanks for choosing me to be your mommy and for loving me through all of my mess-ups. You're the best son anyone could have, and each night in my prayers, I thank Heavenly Father that you're mine. I love you, Nolan!

Love, Mama

Happy Tuesday!

A V-day Date

Our Valentine's celebration was too much fun. We met up with some friends for some delicious Asian food. After a really long internal debate, I settled on the cashew stir fry and I'm so glad I did. After dinner we headed to a movie. It ended up being a little too crude/inappropriate/offensive so we left early, but that did not at all put a damper on our evening. We had such a great time with such GREAT friends, and though we were glad to get back to little Nolan, it was pretty romantic going on a date with Collin, sans the bubba.



(Pictures at dinner taken by Celeste-thanks for sharing!)

I hope your V-day celebration was great, no matter how you spent it!

Happy Wednesday!

Day At The Park

Yesterday after Daddy got home from school we headed for the park. It was freezing cold so we didn't stay too long, but we sure had fun while it lasted. I can't get enough of my boys.

Happy Tuesday!

Within My Heart

I've read before that a good blogger never blogs about blogging. That being said, I'm willing to sacrifice any inner hope I ever had of being a good blogger to say that in my heart, I desire to be a better blogger. This blog has been so incredibly therapeutic for me, and has brought me to meet, both virtually and physically, so many of you, whom I consider dear friends. But you probably didn't even know I consider you dear friends because when I'm in town I don't call, and when I read your blogs I don't comment. Within my heart, I want to be a better friend too.

Growing up I had the world's best friend. She was also my 1st cousin so we were shoo ins to win the best friends ever award. And it was easy being her friend (I'm feeling a deja vu feeling right now, which means I've probably already blogged about this, and if so, forgive me). Because I had a built-in best friend, I've often felt like my friend-making skills never fully were developed and since I genuinely enjoy spending one-on-one time with my husband, so many nights are spent at home, the 2 of us, sometimes Skyping with said best friend, and usually watching a movie on the couch, feeling perfectly comfortable and content. But friends are important, and I know that. Making new friends is such a good idea!

This turned into a rambling of current feelings I've been harboring, and I guess what it boils down to is this...

In 2012, along with my One-Word Goals, I want to:
Be A Better Blogger
Be A Better Friend

And since good bloggers don't blog about blogging, I better get all of my blogging talk done in one blog so I never have to be a bad blogger again. :) (Please sense my facetiousness.)

This blog started as a way for me to anonymously discuss my feelings and experiences with infertility. Then I concluded that anonymity wasn't feeling right because 1. I don't like secrets and 2. I had nothing to hide or be ashamed of. So then the blog was about me, and my infertility. Then, a lot of other cool things happened, and I wanted to share them on this blog, even though they didn't have anything to do with infertility. So this blog became about me, my infertility, and my life. Then I went back and forth about 100 times about the purpose of this blog. Should it just be about infertility? Should it talk about my baby or is that too mean to those who don't have children yet? Should I accept sponsors? Should I advertise on others' blogs? And after all of these questions...I still don't have any answers. Sometimes I think I have answers, but then I just end up changing my mind.

So I guess what I've decided is that myspoiledeggs feels like home to me. And for now it is what it is. A place for me to talk about everything, including infertility, Nolan, and other stuff. And I don't have a clear view or answer as to what exactly this blog should or shouldn't be about, so for now it's just going to be.

I think I'm trying to lower my expectations, and get back to blogging for the love of it, and not to try to be as cool as the really cool people in the world. Because I'm just me, and this is just my blog, and right now, I'm okay with that.

(This is where I'd normally apologize for ranting, and talk about how awkward this post might be for some people to read. This is also where I'd congratulate anybody who actually read the whole thing. But instead of doing all of that, I'm going to skip the apologies and feel good about expressing my feelings, and not feeling pressure by what others may or may not think. In other words, the end. :)

Happy Wednesday!!

25 Days-Day 9

We've been doing The 25 Days of Christmas religiously and it has been so. much. fun.

One of my favorite days so far was day day 9. The card read:

"You better bundle up because it is going to be a White Christmas.
What else would you do on a winter's day, but go ICE SKATING in the park!
Come on, let's go!
Enjoy this merry day!"
So bundle up we did, and off we went to the rink.

We had such a good time. Thanks Love!

Merry Tuesday!

The Boys

I was looking through some old but kind of recent pictures and I found this of my bubba and his cousins. They were all dressed in green and blue, unplanned. I love them. A lot.

Great Grandpas

Nolan is so blessed to have 2 great-grandpas still living. They are both 91 years old and such great examples of what a good man should be.

I love that Grandpa Tom is mimicking Nolan's face. So sweet.

Doesn't Collin look just like his grandpa?! I love it!

This is my grandpa. He is such a great man and I'm so glad that Nolan gets to know him!

Grandparents have been so important to me and I'm sure grateful Nolan has awesome ones all around him too.

Happy Tuesday!

When I graduated from high school my best friend and cousin, Markee and I headed to New York. We lived upstate in Palmyra for a semester and loved every second of it. We were young and though we never thought we would, we totally needed parents. The Ellsworths came to our rescue and were our mom and dad for a semester. We LOVE them and lucky for us they were in Arizona last week so they came by to meet baby Nolan. I just love them and am so grateful that they came.



Thanks for coming B. and S. Ellsworth! Love you!

Happy Monday!

...and teach 'em how to dance...

This boy agreed to sing with me at my senior recital. We sang "You and I" by Ingrid Michaelson. He rocked it. Video to come.


I love him.

Happy Wednesday!

What Our V-day Looked Like + Answers To Questions

A lot of people detest Valentine's Day and all of the commercialization that goes along with, but I for one love it. I have my fair share of "wanting to be different" and I have the need to stick it to the man in a lot of cases, but I will never, ever, ever pass up an opportunity to spend a whole day celebrating the love I have with my husband. And the truth is, yes we should celebrate it every day, but life gets busy and priorities get jumbled up, and a day set aside to remember our love is always in order.

There, now that I've justified my love for Valentine's Day, I'll share some of the things we did to celebrate!

These conversation pillow cases were my gift to C.

And when I came home from my late class, there was a note taped to the back door

that requested my presence beneath the Mulberry Tree, where I found this

My Valentine surprised me with a delicious dinner in the most romantic setting, and a rocking chair to rock my baby to sleep in. And the best part is that we get to refurbish it together. We love projects.

We then debated going out for a movie or staying home. We opted to stay in and snuggle and watch a movie.

It was a perfect day. I love C to pieces.

Now...on to some of your questions.

Here goes:

Tons of your are wondering
Is May baby a boy baby or a girl baby?

May baby is also known as Baby Boy. :) We're thrilled.

Those of you who already knew that baby boy was baby boy want to know what we'll call him
Do you have any names picked out yet?

Yes, about 7. :) We're collaborating with M to pick something the 3 of us will love. We're getting closer each day.

Lastly for today, I've had lots of requests to hear the "adoption" story. The adoption story has just begun, so there will be lots more to come, but for now I can start by sharing how we met M, and some of the fun details that have happened so far. That will come tomorrow though, so check back.

Keep the questions coming, they are so fun! And Uncle Sherrod, when we pick a name, you're at the top of the list. :)

Tomorrow: adoption story chapter 1 and a GIVEAWAY!

Happy Tuesday!

Most Important Meal of the Day

C and I are happy. We really are.
I love him and I love to make him laugh.
He tells me I'm beautiful every day and tickles my arms each morning.
When we got married my dad gave me some valuable advice.
He said to make a list of everything I love about C and refer to it often.
My list is long.
We hold hands any chance we get, even at home.
We have inside jokes.
He knows things about me that nobody else knows.
I know where he's the most ticklish.
He wraps his arms around me and says "Hi Lovey" every time he comes home from work.
And if there's a good song on Pandora when he gets home from work, he'll take me by the hand and lead me into the living room where we'll dance 1 or 2 songs.


I love marriage advice and I love hearing what works for other people because I think each marriage is entitled to its own personal revelation as to what will work for that marriage, but I also think that we can all learn and grow from each other and each others' marriages.
There are several things that I think contribute to our marriage being so happy and I'm going to share them with you.

1. We read scriptures together each and every morning.
2. We pray out-loud together at least 4 times a day (before scriptures, before he leaves for work, dinner blessing, couples prayers before bedtime and even more if we're at home during the day together).
3. We go to the temple together every week. (Of course we miss weeks here and there).
4. We protect each other. If somebody says something hurtful about either of us, we stand up and defend our spouse.

5. We play games together.
6. We eat dinner together every night. I don't eat until he's home, no. matter. what. And if we're at a buffet style dinner, we don't eat until both of us have filled our plates and sat down.
7. He opens my door for me every time, no matter what, no matter where we are.
8. We try to do service for each other each day.
9. We don't raise our voices. Not only is love important in our marriage but respect is also important and we respect each other far too much to ever, ever, ever yell at one another. Even when other people would think yelling is justified, and even if it might be, we just don't do it.

9. We have Family Home Evening every single Monday. Even if we're not home, we take a minute to sing a Hymn, say a prayer and quickly discuss what we have going on that week.
10. We have (at the bare minimum) weekly finance meetings. We go over where each penny was spent that week, where we can save, and where we can do better next week.
11. We talk every single day about our goals for ourselves, for each other, and as a couple.
12. We check in with each other several times during the day. He'll send me a quick text, or I'll shoot him a simple e-mail. But we never go a full day without saying I love you somewhere in there.
13. We have incredible examples in both of our parents' marriages. We try to emulate all of the good things they do in their marriage, because they are rock solid. How many couples do you know that still dance or play DDR together?

These are a few of the things that I feel have really helped our marriage grow, and it starts out each morning with our spiritual breakfast (reading scriptures together). Breakfast, be it spiritual or physical, is indeed the most important meal of the day.


Here's the recipe for my breakfast yesterday:

1/2 an apple
1/2 a banana
1 orange
1 handful of blackberries
1/2 cup of strawberries
1/2 cup of full-fat vanilla yogurt
3 Tbs. of raw rolled oats

Do you have any good marriage tips? I'd LOVE to hear what you and your love do to stay happy!

Happy Friday.