All Types of Wonderful...

This wooden sign sits above our stairs. Jody and I were given a gift card, to a home decor store, for our wedding. And we put the money toward this.

At the time, it just seemed right. As a newlywed - life seemed Wonderful. And over the years, this piece of art has hung in our first apartment...and dotted the walls of our different homes. I have walked past this sign thousands of times over the years; Walking out the door for my first day of work at a new job...Rubbing my eyes at three in the morning to feed a crying, hungry baby...Carrying a defiant toddler to her room for a 'Time-Out'...Running to the oven to retrieve burnt cookies...

Recently, after carrying some soiled clothes to the laundry room, I was scrubbing the carpet with one hand, baby Sienna in the other, while cleaning up an 'accident'. (The third one that day.) I looked up to see the words blaring, "It's a Wonderful Life." I smiled to myself and snickered a little. "Really?", I thought.

Yes...Really.

Even lousy days possess hidden wonder. Life is about perspective. We all know this. Life is what we make it. And this day wasn't even that lousy. Goodness Brittany, get it together. You have two healthy kids, a hardworking husband, a roof over your head and so much more for which to be grateful! So maybe this wedding gift is meant to serve as a gratitude reminder of what Wonderful really means. Over the years I have experienced all types of Wonderful. Most of them are simple accomplishments and joys. The 'I tried a new recipe, and it actually tasted good' sort of Wonderful. The 'My laundry room doesn't look like an episode of Hoarders anymore' type of Wonderful. And the 'My baby gives me the best gummy grins' kind of Wonderful!!


And really, the most magnificent type of wonderful for me right now is found in these big eyes and chubby cheeks!!

The Things She Says...

Gracie makes me laugh. Yesterday while saying a prayer she "Blessed the Machines."

(Instead of the Missionaries.)

She is usually the one who wakes me up in the morning. (Picture the beginning of "Date Night" where Tina Fey gets slammed by a child jumping through the air & onto the bed!) The other day, she lifted up the covers and kindly announced, "Mom - Your Head Looks Like a Coconut." (Have you seen a good picture of a coconut lately??... Yikes. This is not a compliment...)

Gracie loves to sing songs. She does quite the version of Pants on the Ground!



Since beginning Primary in January, she has really caught on to many of the songs in the Children's Songbook. For weeks she would sing "I am a Child of God", and instead of singing 'With Parents Kind and Dear' - she sang 'With Parents Kind-of Here' :)



Little ones teach the most valuable lessons. Last week Jody and I were trying to hush Gracie so we could say a family prayer. The task seemed impossible. When we finally gave up on waiting and just said the prayer, Gracie continued to hum, tap her feet and play with her toys. Once Amen was said, I turned to Gracie and told her Heavenly Father was watching and wishing she would have folded her arms and listened during the prayer. In an instant; one simple moment - she asked,

"Can I try again? Can I have a do-over?"

And we prayed again. This time she looked like a poster child for the 'Friend Magazine' - folding her arms, bowing her head and quietly listening.

Now I'm not saying a little reminder that Heavenly Father wants us to do what is right, works every time. We say many prayers at our house where eyes are wide open and Gracie is poking Sienna or waving her pretend magic wand. But what stuck with me is that, in one moment, she made it seem so easy to change her ways and choose a better path.

It's a lesson I need to learn often; and a sweet reminder that a glorious way has been provided for us, through our Savior Jesus Christ...so that we can have those much needed 'do-overs'.

"Can I Try Again?"

And if we have a sincere heart - the answer from our Father in Heaven will always be YES.

Hard Work...

Today Sienna rolled over, from her back to her tummy, for the FIRST time!

It was exhausting.

What are Little Girls Made of?

Sugar

and Spice

And Everything Nice,

That's What Little Girls Are Made Of.

Celebrating 6 Years!

As a new and excited bride, six years down the road seemed like a very VERY long time away. And now it's here - an apartment, three homes, two kids and lots of memories later - Jody and I celebrate 6 years of marriage!


I'm a lucky girl. Jodes is an incredible husband. (Here comes another story.) While we were dating, I won the title of Miss Deseret and then went on to compete at the Miss Utah Pageant. When I wasn't going to school, studying or spending time with Jody - I was completely devoted to my service platform. The title of Miss Deseret gave me that extra boost of credibility I needed, and Celebrating Abilities and Advocating for those with Special Needs filled hundreds of hours during my reign. I was ready to be Miss Utah. I had started a variety of programs across the state, and I knew if I won the state title - getting funding for the continuation of those programs and the overall growth of awareness...could explode. During these months of preparation, Jody and I grew closer...and I realized he was really something exceptional. The more time I spent with him - the more I understood I wanted to be with him forever and ever.

So it's the Final Night of the Pageant. The Top Ten are called, and I'm one of them. I'm about to perform my vocal selection for the talent competition. Jody is sitting next to my family in the audience. As the emcee announces my name and the lights are about to come up; Jody turns to my mom and says:

"Let's say a prayer for Brittany."

He then went on to pray that I would sing my very best and feel good about my performance.

Jody wanted to marry me. But he also knew I had worked so hard for a dream where I believed I could make a huge difference. A dream - that would have put off marriage for another year. It may seem simple, but his genuine willingness to want me to succeed means the world to me.

I didn't win the crown that night. But I did win something much greater.

Walking side by side with Jody still makes me feel so special! I used to think it was cheesy when people would comment that they were so much MORE in love after years of marriage - compared to their wedding day. But it's TRUE. As time passes, Jody finds a way to make me laugh harder, care more deeply and just love him that much more.

“One of the most satisfying rewards of a good marriage is the sense of being the most important person in the world to one other person.”

Sienna at 4 Months!

Sienna had her Four-Month Check Up this week. Here are her growth stats:

Length: 23 1/2 inches (22.5 %tile)
Weight: 12 pounds 12 oz. (31 %tile)Head: 16 inches (41 %tile)
The Doctor says she's right on track. She's smaller than Gracie was at this age.

Goodness! I love this girl. She gives us the BEST smiles! She is fascinated with her hands. About one month ago, she decided the pacifier wasn't such a bad idea. (Yay) Sienna sleeps a 4 or 5 hour stretch at night usually. We are still up in between the 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. hours every morning. She's a burper. A loud burper. Her hair has lightened up so much from the dark hair she had when she was a newborn. The poor thing has struggled with acid reflux, and we are still trying to get that under control. I'm nursing her, which is great. Those first few weeks are always really difficult for me, but sharing that time with her is priceless. And there is a certain scent that will forever "smell" like Sienna to me.

When I was in labor in the hospital, Jody rubbed my feet with Bath and Body Works Lemon Vanilla Lotion. When the nurse walked in to check me, she asked, "Is someone eating Froot Loops in here?" I love the scent of this lotion. And now every time I wear it, I will think of my sweet baby!

This one makes me giggle.
Maybe she was trying for an Elvis Impersonation...

Motherhood 101

These are some of the things I learned this week about being a Mom:

** Being thrown up on, moments after stepping out of the shower...just adds character.

** Bald Spots can be downright adorable.

** Sleep must be overrated, because I'm not getting any!

** Using the bathroom requires an audience. (If I even try to shut the door for some privacy - here comes the wailing and the little fingers under the door...)

** I got shoved into our pantry by my 3-year-old. (Pathetic right?) Hmmmm...didn't even care. It's dark, It's quiet...Some alone time with an endless supply of food...I'll take it.

** It's possible (Not Comfortable) to fit a mom, 3-year-old and baby on a toddler mattress for "Night Night".

** This is probably the first of MANY pictures taken in this Princess Tent!

** Hearing, "I Love You Mom" NEVER gets old.

** And the big realization I had: Our Children Save Us.

Let me elaborate. Earlier this week, I was having a conversation with a neighbor about the removal of my tumor. She told me I was "too young" to have something like this happen to me. I responded by telling her how grateful I am to an attentive OB/GYN doctor who actually listened to my symptoms and took them seriously. After seeing three different family practice doctors who told me my symptoms were simply 'no big deal' - it was my Obstetrician who really stressed that I needed to have a colonoscopy. And So I Did.

My sweet neighbor, with tears in her eyes, then said while pointing to Sienna:

"It looks like this little one was sent here to save you."
She's right.

My symptoms were so much worse when I was pregnant. And it was because they were extreme that I spoke to my OB doctor, who scheduled us with a GI doctor. Given the doctor's timeline of how the dysplasia in the tumor was just months away from budding through the walls of my colon - if I hadn't been pregnant, I don't think we would have thought to have the procedure done. And then by the time we discovered my situation...it could have been a very different and sad outcome.

I believe Heavenly Father sent Sienna as my 'Saving Hope'. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. And I know that our children do save us. It's the late nights, the spit-up in your hair, the genuine and devoted prayers in behalf of our children that save us from focusing so much on ourselves. Raising children is hard. You hurt when they hurt, you cry when they cry...and then once they are peacefully tucked in bed - You pray so intensely for them.

It's exhausting.

And yet - that love brings you one step closer to our Savior Jesus Christ, and reminds us that life isn't about US...it's about selfless giving.

A Season of Miracles...

We have come to the end of another magnificent Holiday Season. It always passes much too quickly.
This year was beautiful.

We found the perfect Christmas Tree...

We made dozens of Sugar Cookies...

We drank Egg Nog and wore Bad Festive Sweaters...

We chatted with Santa...

And along the way, we experienced some miracles.

I was hoping to get a colonoscopy before 2010 came to a close. I've had some symptoms that started shortly before I became pregnant with Gracie. With Sienna's pregnancy - the symptoms only worsened. We didn't want to do the procedure during my pregnancy - due to the harmful effects of anesthesia on the baby...so it was a race against time to get the procedure scheduled before the end of the year. Since the age bracket for recommended colonoscopies is around 50 plus...few doctors entertained the idea of looking into what might be causing my symptoms. But finally after getting a screening appointment with a doctor on our insurance plan - the nurse looked in her computer calendar to see the next available date for a colonoscopy....

She crinkled her nose, shook her head and said,

"I'm amazed. We've had one cancellation. Will December 17th work for you?

All of our other appointments are well into the new year."

I gladly took the date.

Our first miracle.

Call it a small random turn of events - a Coincidence.
But I know there is no such thing as a Coincidence. All things happen for a reason.

During the Colonoscopy, the Doctor found a large tumor, the size of a silver dollar, in the lower part of my colon - the doctor thinks it was there for about 5 years. After biopsying the tumor, they found it contained areas of high-grade dysplasia and Villous Adenoma was present. Of course, when the doctor told me this - All I heard were words. Blurred Words.

"The Translation Brittany" he explained, "You don't have cancer - but most likely you were only months away from the irregular cells budding into colon cancer."

Another Miracle.

High-Grade Dysplasia is the last step on the ladder before pre-cancer becomes real cancer. The doctor says if I had waited a year from now to have the procedure - the outcome would be very different; most likely resulting in the removal of part of my colon and treatment for cancer.

That is part I can't get out of my head.

I am so lucky. I know so many others don't receive such favorable results from tests like these.

So this Christmas I had my own Ebenezer Scrooge realization {minus the part of being really old and grouchy...okay my husband might disagree with the grouchy part - but that's only for a short time in the morning. :) }

A Commitment to Living Life to the Fullest and loving each and every moment. And if it's not a moment to love (because those exist...potty training a toddler comes to mind) then enduring those moments with charm and a smile. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for my life - the joyful parts and the challenging parts too.

So Cheers to 2011! Cheers to seeing more gummy grins from my 3-month old baby girl. Cheers to hearing Gracie sing 'Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer' ALL year long.

Cheers to all my blessings.

(Our camera ran out of juice for Gracie's Big Finish. I assure you; it was great!)

From Our Home to Yours...

Merry Christmas!

"One Cry Awakened the World,
One Birth Changed History
One Life Made All the Difference"

May the Spirit of this Season Remain in our Hearts Always.

That's the Christmas Spirit...

This Classic Christmas Show has become quite the hit with Gracie this Season. Thanks to Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer: Gracie now wants to be a dentist when she grows up, She thinks it's okay to be a "Bossy Elf", and THIS GUY...

Is one of her favorite ornaments hanging on our Christmas Tree! She has learned a handful of new one-liners from this show. The other day, she looked at me and said:

"Mom, You'll Never Fit In."

Thank You Gracie. Thank You Rudolph.

And to also get you in the Christmas Spirit, I came across this darling website. You can personalize messages from the Big Guy in Red and send them to your loved ones.
CLICK HERE to see a message from Santa Claus to Gracie.