Question

So I know that my body will never quite be the same after having a baby. I also know that I'm not built to be super skinny. And I'm really okay with that.

I know that eating right and exercising is the best way to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight.

But try as I might, these extra pounds from being pregnant are just NOT going anywhere.

Partly because I'm just a little too addicted to ice cream, and finding time to exercise, be a mom, and work is hard. But I've tried to be better and everyone told me that nursing would help me lose the baby fat. It's not helping.

Any ideas? What do all of you do to find the time and stay motivated?

Growing

I feel like Lauren has grown and learned a ton just in the last week. Things she can't seem to quite get one day she's a pro at the next.

Just the last two days she's found her voice and has been screeching, singing and gurgling almost non-stop. All during sacrament meeting too!

I found her like this the other day when i went to check on her: eyes peeking out of her blanket with her binky perched on the side of her head.

And this is how she usually sleeps. Our little drama queen with one arm across her eyes/forehead. (Sorry it's blurry.)

She has been the best baby ever. She had a little bug last week and wasn't very happy for a few days, but it's passed and she's happier than ever. She's still trying to figure out how to roll over consistently. She just gets mad when she's on her tummy. She still sleeps really well. Three naps a day and 10-12 hours at night. Can't ask for much more than that! We sure do love her!

A Holiday

Having a day off is so nice every now and then. It was a bummer that Chase still had to work yesterday but I went and spent the day with my mom, dad and brother. We went up to North Fork and had dutch oven breakfast and took Lauren on her first hike. It was good times!

Nothing like a little snooze in the sunshine. :)

The Ultimate Surprise

Chase is a snoop. Think he always has been and forever will be. It has been impossible for me to surprise him even once the whole time we've been married. Thus it has been my goal to surprise him with a present. After four years I did it!

After asking Chase what he wanted for his birthday and not getting a definite response, I was stumped. His birthday was two days away and I didn't have a clue what to get him. I knew what he wanted though but it just wasn't possible: a 32"-42" flat screen TV just wasn't in the budget.

But thanks to great family members who were willing to contribute we made it happen! I was able to *cough* lie about getting his family to pitch in for a TV and told him he needed to give me an idea for something else he wanted. He sent me a list of headphones on Amazon to take a look at.

I ordered the TV Wednesday and then made up an authentic-looking fake Amazon receipt from an old one I had saved on my email with the headphones listed on it. I then 'happened' to leave it sitting on the counter so he would be sure to see it. Then I wrapped it up with a big jar of oatmeal and lemonade to give some deceptive weight to the box when he opened up the fake receipt. He opened it up and and kind of smiled thinking that his headphones would be here on Monday.

And the look on his face was priceless when he opened up that big box of headphones to find a big TV instead.

I have to say that I was pretty proud of myself that I was finally able to surprise him!

Thoroughly Disgusted

There I was, standing at the lab counter when I felt a tickle in my shoe. Little bit of a scratch from the other foot, and it went away.

There was that little tickle again. Took my shoe off to scratch better... and what popped out?

A HUGE hobo spider.

Spiders don't typically bother me, but they had better stay out of my shoes!

{Shudder.}

Monday Musings

Sometimes I like headbands on babies. I want to find some that don't squish Lauren's head and are really skinny.

Lauren still isn't very happy. She's been pretty grumpy the last few days. Waiting for the doctor to call back with some ideas.

Mondays at work are really long.

Chase's birthday present gets here today! (A post coming on that later.) Hee hee!

Chase is old. At least he thinks so. 26 is more than half-way to 30, which is ANCIENT, if you didn't know. :)

Something stinks under our kitchen sink and I don't know what it is.

I actually found a pair of pants that fit digging through some old winter clothes this morning. YAY! I love finding random clothes you forgot about.

My petunias are close to being resurrected after I just about killed them last weekend.

Curtain rods are expensive! Not going to pay 12 bucks for one.

I wonder if I could get arthritis in my thumb from pipetting too much.

Found a yummy recipe for Lemon Sour Cream Cupcakes I want to try.

Dark green carpet hides dirt much better than beige carpet. I think I'll forget to vacuum.

Bear Lake

This last weekend we headed to Bear Lake with my family for a fun vacation. Growing up we went to Bear Lake every year so it was fun to go back again! Lauren experienced the cold water and swimming for the first time. She looked pretty darn cute in her suit and sun hat. And of course we played lots with cousins!