After 9 months Hallie is now sleeping on her own!! To read how we did it go to my mom blog. 

The Young Mother’s Club

Here are some pictures of Hallie when she finally fell asleep. Face pressed against the mesh. haha

Sometimes being a mom and a wife is overwhelming. This scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants lifted my spirits today.

 “…I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”

I need Him every hour…let’s make that every minute!

I decided to create another blog called The Young Mother’s Club.  I ALWAYS have questions, concerns, etc. about being a mom that I am constantly thinking about. I am hoping this blog will be my outlet for that.  I plan on posting a few times a week or whenever something comes up that I want other’s advice or opinion on. Please comment with your responses. Also, if you have anything you want to start a discussion about tell me and I’ll post it. Please spread the word and lets get as many mothers as we can involved. More people=more advice, success stories etc.

Let’s help each other!

http://youngmothersclub.blogspot.com/

image source: http://fotobank.ru/image/DV03-4962.html

This past weekend the sunshine was “off the hook!” 

Saturday I took Hallie to the park with some of the ladies from the ward. She LOVES the swings. So cute!! 

We also took Hallie swimming. Which she LOVED. 

And last but not least we went to National Harbor.  

This past week Ben’s brothers, Brogan and Tyler, came to visit us here in DC.  Brogan just recently returned from a mission and I had only met him twice (briefly) before he left. Because of this I was excited to get to know him better and see if all the stories Ben tells me about him are true. I was also excited because I love Tyler. He never fails to make me laugh. 

They were here from Friday to Wednesday and we were sad to see them go. (I am a people person and love the company.)  Besides them touring DC we were able to go to Mount Vernon, Occoquan, the Temple (thanks boys for watching Hallie while we went), Golfing, and Ty and I went to Mutual. (He wanted to scope out the ladies.) 🙂 

Cherry Blossom Festival Firework Show

Hallie and her Daddy watching the show

Hallie and Uncle Brogan (She got to see higher than she’s ever seen–he’s 6’3!)

Me trying to Golf

Ben golfing

Tyler golfing

Brogan golfing

The Crane boys (They kept saying how they wished Kyle (dad) was there.)

Hallie really did love Brogan even though she had been crying in this picture

Tyler put Hallie’s new walker together.

I’m so grateful I married into an amazing family!

We call her MISS TROUBLE.

This past weekend one of my great friends Kessia Cruz got married. We were able to go to the ceremony in DC. It was beautiful and simple. Ben kept commenting, “I like how simple they made it.” Kessia looked absoluetly gorgeous!! (as always) 

The reason why I titled this post “bottled moments” is because sitting there in the chapel I felt feelings that I wished I could bottle so I would never forget them. I was able to teach Kessia on my mission. She knew it was true immediately because the gospel filled in all the holes she had found in other religions.  Now two years later to see her married in the church, by a bishop, to a man who holds the priesthood, put a smile on my face. 

**Kessia you are beautiful inside and out. I have never met anyone who is as positive and friendly as you are. You always have a smile on your face and nothing ever seems to get you down. Thank you for inviting us to the wedding and thank you for being an amazing example to me. We will be in touch for dinner plans. 🙂

It was two years ago today that Ben proposed. Yes, he proposed on April Fools Day! He had originally planned to propose earlier that weekend but after realizing that April fools was just a few days away, Ben being Ben, couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell our future generations that we got engaged on April Fools Day.

Because it was General Conference that Sunday we lounged around all day and I never bothered to get ready. In fact I spent the whole day in sweats (his sweats mind you!). Later, Ben told me he kept waiting for me to get ready but finally gave up.  Earlier that day that he had mentioned he had a special surprise for me. I remember thinking who does that! Who tells someone that they have a “special surprise” a.k.a JOKE to play on them. I spent the rest of the day watching my back and worrying.

After conference was over he asked me to come outside with him. “Oh no this is it” I thought. As we got to the drive way he asked me to show him where we first kissed. As we stood in that spot he pulled out a ring box, told me how much he loved me, and asked me to marry him. I asked if he was serious and he said, “dead serious”. After what was happening sunk in I told him the answer the Lord gave me after I prayed about it weeks before. And of course a YES was tagged onto the end. 🙂 

After kissing in the drive way for awhile we decided we should go tell everyone. My parents of course knew because Ben had already asked my dad for permission.**  Ben’s parents, however, were a different story. Ben hadn’t told anyone, except his cousin/best friend/roommate, that he had bought a ring and was planning on asking me. When we showed up at his parents house and announced we were engaged no body believed us. (Keep in mind that I had only been home from my mission 5 weeks!) They inspected the ring to see if it came out of a cracker jack box and told Ben they knew his humor and didn’t think this was funny. Finally Ben’s dad said, “I don’t care if it’s real or not I’m getting a granddaughter.” (Ben’s dad loves babies.) After every thing settled down they believed us and were in shock to say the least. (A happy shock I’d like to think.) 🙂 

Three months later we were married in the Salt Lake Temple and it has been BLISS ever since. 

Thanks Ben for loving me!!

**Funny story- Ben had called me a couple weeks previous to him proposing asking for my dad’s phone number. He claimed that he had information for my dad about his truck that needed to be fixed. I didn’t bat an eye. A few days later while with my family I asked my dad if Ben had ever called him. He said, “No, what for?” I responded, “Oh he was going to ask you for permission to marry me!” Both my parents’ mouth dropped open as they stared me down. I started laughing and told them to relax I was just kidding. There was no way we would get engaged so soon. 

Little did I know that Ben had in fact called and talked to my dad. They knew already! We all still laugh thinking about how right I was with out even knowing it.

…they would probably improve it. 

Yes, I know I can’t believe I drive it either! I try to forget what it looks like while I’m inside it.  My level of disgust is equal to the level of Ben’s pride. I should have known what would happen if our car was ever wrecked. Just look at Ben’s old car. (Notice the different color driver’s door.)

It was fate.

Hallie turned 7 months old almost two weeks ago. (Better late than never–I’ve been busy believe it or not.)

• She crawls ALL over the apartment.

• She pulls herself up using anything she can find. (I’m sure she will be walking by 9 months.)

• She has become a little pintcher. (ouch, they hurt!!)

• She is as happy as she has ever been.

• She still sleeps only with me.

• She is as clingy as ever.

• She eats peas, squash, fresh bananas, and carrots. (carrots are by far her favorite.)

• She doesn’t like peaches, pears, prunes.

• She has discovered the flower headbands on her head and pulls them off to my dismay.

• She squints when she smiles. Soooo cute!!

• She is getting more hair but it’s blond so it is almost invisable.

• She has dark blue eyes

• She is still the queen of cat naps.

• She loves little kids and other babies.

• She has the most hilarious laugh. (I will post a video later.)

• She gets into EVERYTHING.

• She already knows how to unroll the toilet paper. (stand up using the toilet, reach over and play with roll until some comes loose. Then PULL.) It was like Disneyland for her. She was all smiles and laughs…..until I took it away and washed her hands-she touched the toilet!!

• She is the best part of our lives!