How to clip a baby's fingernails

If you are a new parent or have every been assigned the task of clipping a baby or child's fingernails you will want to keep reading. 

Please follow these steps if you would like to be a pro at baby fingernail clipping

1. Make sure said baby is drowsy or super happy. This is not a task to try when the baby is fussy or hungry or overstimulated (flapping arms and legs, whining, etc).

2. Lay baby on bed as you were to change a diaper.

3. Bend over baby and let your hair drop towards their face. This is key. If you are a male, borrow a wig. 

4. Let the baby grab your hair. Grab the baby's other hand. Firmly grasp finger and attack.

5. The baby will be happy to pull your hair and you will be happy to clips those nasty sharp fingernails.

6. Repeat as needed

Today Amalie has been sleeping ALL DAY LONG. I seriously feel like she's two days old. She's eating almost every single hour as well. I'm not even going to ask if this is normal because I don't really care. She's happy and if she's tired she'll sleep. If she's hungry I'll feed her. (Thank you abundant milk supply). 

I have been trying really hard to switch my mindset with this baby of mine. Who cares what other people say and do with their children. It's up to them. They can do what they want. I will try and follow my gut, the spirit and my child's cues. My baby is really happy and I'm really happy so who cares?

And if she doesn't start rolling over soon...deep breaths my baby is normal and she just doesn't want to roll over yet. And she doesn't like to sit up in her bumbo, or my leg or propped up on pillows. She just doesn't like to bend. It's fine. She can stand and lay and hold herself up all she wants. I will carry her all she wants. I won't get to do this all the time and I need to soak it in. And now I'm just letting the keys type themselves with my thoughts.

Happy fingernail clipping. 

Geez..I am such a mom.

Tooting my own horn

I have noticed something.
When I get out and do things during the day and accomplish little things, I feel so much better about myself.
I have often found myself sitting in bed with the babe, watching netflix while she sleeps and doing a whole lot of nothing. Those days I feel like crying when Tanner gets home and feel very useless. I feel that I'm not contributing to society.
Today was different. I took a shower (!!) Yay!, gave my sweet baby a bath, blow dried my hair, did laundry including our cloth diapers (I say this because it takes more time than one load :)), went on campus to have Amalie participate in a study for four month olds. She notices emotion. She's doing great :). Then I picked up the house a little bit, picked up Tanner, went to the grocery store, sewed some costumes, made half of dinner (Tanner finished the rest) and played with fed the baby all throughout.
This may not seem like a lot but wow do I feel great when I get things done. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself at the end of the day when I have gotten out and have done things that don't include selfish things.
Happy Monday :)

Picture Overload Jan-Feb

In the first few weeks...eating dinner. Pj's, wrap and a silly outfit for the babe.

Pre-bath accidents.

First bottle at 6 weeks. We had to prepare her so we could go see Phantom of the Opera at BYU. Tanner's sister danced in it! 

Playing in the snow with Daddy/Papa.

Handsome dad and snow-suited babe.

Helping with Laundry

Now I am done putting these in order...It is taking too long. I am sorry...

Amalie's lover puckering up

Eating her hand

Trying for kisses...again. 

Eating her hand.

Being adorable

Showing mom his new face.

It ended with a punch to the nose. I am already teaching her well.

No, it's not Thanksgiving. A big dinner with Tanner's family! 

My family at the blessing

Fun with family

My parents at the blessing. We didn't catch any of Tanner's family on our camera. And no, that is not my mirror. I don't like it. 

Cute cousin being silly

Grandma Mary and the swaddled dear.

First time being held my Papa Rick! 

This picture kills me. Too cute.

And this. My daughter is so beautiful.

Grammy with her dad.

Cece and her first grandbaby.

Sometimes she falls asleep in silly positions. This picture is old. She doesn't do this anymore.

 Those pictures are really old, from January and February. She's much bigger now. I will upload more pictures soon.

Here's an update on our life:
-We switched to cloth diapers and I LOVE THEM. So does Tanner. I think Amalie is happy too. I feel richer already.
-My parents are moving to Alpine, Utah. They bought a beautiful new home just minutes away from where there were before. We're really happy for them. They have a month to get out of their house and into the new one. Yay packing! :)
-We are moving in with them in August. As much as I always said I would never live with my parents/in-laws, this is just perfect. I'll be teaching at Timberline Middle School this Fall and my mom will be watching the babe. I already feel guilt and sadness because I won't be with her---but it's okay. This is just the perfect arrangement and we feel really blessed. There is a downstairs separate apartment with two bedrooms, washing room, a big bathroom I would have been able to actually fit into while I was pregnant, and a lovely kitchen. It's actually really nice and we're excited. :)
-We're getting an awesome tax return so we won't starve this summer. *perks of having a baby*
-Sometimes while Amalie naps I do yoga. It's really refreshing.
-I get to dance with PAC again for a show at the end of April. The show is in Ogden...wanna come see me relive my glory days? (some girls are not able to  make the show due to wedding and such) I have some major cardio to do if I want to make it through an entire show. I'm completely serious...I need to get my heart in shape.
-The semester is almost over which means we get to have Tanner back in our lives for a few days before he starts Spring semester. He works so hard and I love him for it.
-I had finally admitted that my daughter doesn't like to be cuddled. She likes to be held when she's happy but otherwise she would rather look around at the world while being held. She doesn't particularly like nursing either. This is okay. My mom says she is a lot like I was. I didn't like to be cuddled or nurse either. I guess I'm okay and I have a really good relationship with my mom...so I am over it.
We have lots of fun giggling and smiling throughout the day. She doesn't like taking long naps either. She takes a morning nap for 50 minutes and then the afternoon she takes short 20-30 min naps. This doesn't give me a lot of time to get things done but we are getting by. My mom also said I did the same thing.  Like mother like daughter. :)

Found

Today as my little family loaded into the car, a lady ran across the street to ask for help. Her daughter was missing. They didn't know where she was. She had gone to a sleepover last night and wasn't answering her phone. They knew the house was somewhere in the neighborhood and needed to know which house it was.

They asked if I knew of anyone who had just turned 18 and would be having a party here. I knew immediately who it was. An inactive laurel would be turning 18 this month. I knew she had a birthday in March. I had her number. We called her and the lady got a hold of her daughter and found the house.

She called it luck. I know it was more than that. We are probably the only people in the whole neighborhood who know this girl. I was probably one of the only people who knew she had a birthday in march, let alone had her number.

The Lord is so good. I love little tender mercies such as these that remind us that the Lord watches over us. He hears our silent and loud prayers and puts people in our lives that can help us. I am so grateful I was able to help this woman find her daughter. I was so grateful for the reminder that we are loved and looked after.

Are you there?

Well, now I feel as if I'm writing to no one.
Here's the reasoning behind going private.
I was looking at where my traffic was coming from and saw a site that linked 23 viewers to my blog. I hadn't seen it before so I clicked. It led me to a pornography site. I was completely sickened as I closed my browser and couldn't shake the awful image I saw. I sat there praying and trying to push away the image and nasty feeling I had. After many prayers I finally began to wonder how in the world people could find my blog through that site. I did not want any one in the whole world to be able to click my blog so I decided to go private.
Since then, I think only two people have viewed the blog?
I blog partly for journaling purposes but I also blog to get my ideas out there and get feedback. I also read other people's blogs to catch up and see what is going on in my friend's lives. I imagine some people read this blog for the same reason. There seems no point in posting if no one will view it.

So faithful readers...all two of you...What should I do? Keep it private or open this blog up again? Are there other privacy settings I can switch around so I don't get traffic from unwanted sources? Any insight you have would be great.

My Life is crazy.

It's rare that I have two hands to type a blog post. And when I do have two hands to do anything, I like to wash dishes, fold laundry and do other productive things.
Life is great.
Okay...back up. Life is stressful and great.

Here's a run down on the past two months.
- Had Amalie. Awesome. Wonderful. Life changing and magical.
-Amalie was 5 weeks old. I received a calling in my ward. Young Women's President. So exciting...lots of time.
-Interviewed for an internship I didn't apply for. I was offered the job on the spot. I will be teaching FACS classes at Timberline Middle School this upcoming fall. So exciting and such a blessing. It will be stressful, hard and I am already beating myself up for leaving my baby but it must be done. I have to either student teach or intern and we need money. Timberline is also minutes away from my parents house and my mom will be watching Amalie.
-Tanner's family came in town Thursday-Sunday for the baby blessing. Thursday-fed family and first mutual, Friday-fed 15 in our home, Saturday-fed 11, and saw Phantom of the Opera at BYU (Tanner's sister danced in it-amazing), Sunday-fed 40+ after the blessing. Sunday afternoon-crashed on couches.
-Went to Trader Joe's and thanked the heavens it was finally in Utah.
-Watched a lot of The Office
-Yes, I am now typing this one handed as I nurse my baby. I am just that devoted.
-Tanner's mom came this past weekend Thursday-Sunday. We had a lovely V-day with Tanner at school until 8, mutual at 7 at our house and dinner at 9:30. But!!! We made the best pork chops ever.
-Back spasms all weekend, emergency massage Sunday, pinched nerve and a new momma who can't really hold her child with out wanting to cry. I am going to go see a chiropractor soon...anyone want to come home my baby?? :)
-Most days I put on make up and somedays I shower. I make dinner a lot and enjoy my babies coo's and happiness. She's the best. She's really small too. I love her.


So...life is good and stressful. We are happy and just trying to go with the change.

Going Private

Hi Friends,
I have decided to make my blog private. Please leave a comment with your email or message me on facebook if you would like to continue to read. Thanks so much. Hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for all the kind comments from the last post.