Give-A-Way!

Another awesome give away from CSN Stores online. Enter for a chance to win a $35 gift card to any of the CSN stores. CSN stores have over 200 sites with anything from baby items to upholstered dining chairs! To enter, just leave a comment with your name and email address. The winner will be chosen October 4th at midnight!

Good luck!

Yes, I spoil my Son.

Recently, I have been hearing from one person or another that I spoil my precious and cute little boy, Edward. I figured I would address the subject in a semi public forum and explain my actions. This way, you can then asses my actions and make a true judgement of whether or not I am, in fact, "spoiling" him.
My full time position tittle is "Wife and Mother". My duties include but are not limited to: Feeding my husband and child (usually an all day event), helping Edward fall asleep for a nap and for bed time, bathing Edward, teaching Edward, playing with Edward, and making sure he grows in to an intelligent wonderful young man. Cleaning house, laundry, and other house hold items are included but not a top priority.
If Edward needs something and he is incapable of doing it himself, I do it for him. After all he is only 19 months. This usually means I am getting up and down from my position on the floor more than 100 times a day. (I keep wondering why I haven't gained much weight in this pregnancy...)
So, you say, what about "you", Julie? Well, I spend a significant amount of time on the computer and reading. If I "take a break" and turn on the television for a while then Edward needs something, I stand up and get it for him. If he needs attention, I give it to him.
Let's be honest... is the Television or computer more important than your child? NO! There is not a thing that I could be doing that is more important than my Son. So, yes, I spoil him. I don't answer the phone to chat all day long, I don't really watch much television, and I try to limit my computer time.
I don't mind running all over the town taking Edward to the park or museum or on a hike to educate my Son. I don't mind playing cars with him for hours and hours a day. These are precious moments I have with him during the day and there is not a thing in the world that is more important than my time with my husband and my Son.
So, yeah, I spoil him. AND I don't feel bad about it at all.

*Please note sarcasm

Want to know a little about what I believe?

The Family: A Proclamation to the World
"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

7 Months!

Oh Boy, Have I Grown! and so has baby #2!

Also, below is a picture of Edward for you to compare. I think they are going to look alike!

Future

sometimes i would like to know the future. ie: is the baby coming early, late, or right on time; should we buy a house now or wait 3 years; where are my boys going to go to school; is home schooling better for them; is Edward going to sleep through the night tonight; are we really staying in ABQ forever; and are my children going to be successful adults?

Ok, they are really just random questions; however, I would like to know the answer so that I can make a few decisions...

oh, and is that baby ticker right? 68 days? AH!!!!!! I am not, not, not ready!

A day out

Just a few pictures to show we actually did do a few things in August, including buying a new (used) car to drive up to the top of the mountain. Happy September, friends!

Just thinking out loud

I really can't believe that Edward is a year and a half. I really can't believe that in a little over two months we will have another precious young boy in our family. I really can't believe I am 29. Sometimes (OK all the time) I ask, "Where did the time go?" However, I know precisely where it has gone.
I give my days and occasional nights to my precious son, Edward and my amazing husband, Stephen. I continually try to come up with new places to go with new things to learn. I devote some of my time to missing my family and friends. I try to find new delicious recipes to try each week. I pray with Edward daily. I play with Edward. I look at facebook. I read. I watch some Disney movies. I feed Edward. Actually, I spend a lot more time feeding Edward than playing with him. I am a wife and mother. I write in my journal. I sing. I sleep.
I can see I have a lot of time that is devoted to silly things and a lot more time devoted to just being a Mom. Sometimes I think that my youth is passing me by then I remember the moments I am spending with my family will be the most cherished moments of my life. I listened to a woman bare her testimony today in church. She talked about how she always wanted to be a performer and sing, then her life changed and it didn't take the course she had intended. She didn't seem at all sad about he decision to be a wife and mother. I thought about how I keep trying to find my inner performer and that I get to perform for Edward each and every day, night, and moment.
I can not be sad and should not be disappointed because I am not singing and dancing on Broadway. I am fulfilling another purpose. I am a Mom. If I do "nothing" with my talent, that is OK. I am finally in a place that I feel very happy. Stephen also informed me that we are most likely staying in Albuquerque for "eternity". I admit, I am devastated. I will miss my family and friends back in Arizona; however, maybe now is the time in my life to make new friends and branch out a little. Albuquerque can't be that bad, can it?