Now I have to.

I signed up for Gold's Gym today. Now I have to workout. It's already paid for; therefore, I MUST go. I HAVE to go.

It'll be good for me.

(Emily, this is for you = GETTIN MY SKINNY ON!)

Now I have to.

Strike 2, Shannon Hale

I like Shannon Hale. Goose girl, Princess Academy, River Secrets, etc.

However, I haven't been impressed this past little while with her books.

I tried reading "The Actor and the Housewife". I put it down. I didn't like that she was married, LDS and was flirting and had a crush on the actor, who was also married. HELLO!

I've been trying to push my way through Book of 1000 Days, but it's not a typical Shannon Hale, I feel like. It feels like a fantasy/old world/hippies book. Ehhh?

That's strike 2, Ms Hale. Let's hope these other ones prove better.

Updates with pictures to come!

Updates. Pictures coming soon.

Terrell: Though I don't see him much due to 2 jobs and full-time school, I really have the best husband ever. He certainly makes me feel special! I am one lucky girl! He recently got a stationary bike trainer which he is very excited to start using ("I can do my homework AND bike!!!"). He loves his job as a security officer and has recently gotten his pepper spray certification - aka he got pepper sprayed and such. I watched everyone's training/experience in his group and Terrell definitely got it the worst out of everyone; I could physically see the pool of pepper spray from where I was standing. He took it like a champ tho, and was only there about 10 minutes before he was ready to leave. Terrell looks pretty legit in his security uniform, but unfortunately I can't take any pictures of him in it! This security job has made him want to be a cop even more!

Kellie: I'm just a stay at home mommy and loving it! It has been hard lately, though, getting exhausted from a crazy active baby, but it's definitely hilarious to watch Lexi go crazy all the day long! I've been working hard on organizational skills and being up to date with dishes (GO ME, huh?!?!) and such and hopefully our house is looking a whole lot better! I've also been working on Lexi's scrapbook, and also our wedding scrapbook. SO much fun. Scrapbooking = therapy! I'm also going to start really exercising again to hopefully shed these last 15-20 lbs or so to drop below pre-pregnancy weight. I think it'll do me good to be active again after so much stress, sickness, and having a baby! I recently got my hair trimmed and re-colored so hopefully that will keep me motivated to look better, too! (I also have coupons for free eyebrow wax, facial, and more = THANKS TAYLOR ANDREWS ACADEMY!!!)

Lexi: I cannot believe that Lexi is 7 months old. It literally blows my mind how old she is getting! My little baby! She's still little, but MY MY MY is she smart! She can say "Yeah" "Hey/Hi" and "Da-da". She can also crawl and has the funniest sense of humor. She is always playing, smiling, talking, laughing, crawling...you name it! I can't keep up with her sometimes! She is also getting a lot more blonde hair! She's gunna be a strawberry-blonde, blue-eyed knock out! We've also had a bazillion tests to figure out what caused the stroke but nothing has really turned up, so we're just hanging out now! She is getting so much better with her right hand/arm which makes me SO proud! It is a celebration every time we see her use her right hand for something! We just love our little girl! She loves to watch her beta fish, Galaxar, especially while she's eating "to make sure he's okay". He is an active beta fish (HINT: put your beta in SUNlight and he will be much happier and be an active little guy!) so he's fun to watch. I am going to be taking her to PetSmart this week to look at all the fun fishies and animals - she's going to LOVE it.

Keep checkin' back for a post chuck-full of pictures!!!!

Answers to my own questions!

Thank you to ALL who have responded to my last post!!! Keep commenting if you haven't already.

I love hearing about how everyone views different things. Thanks for all your advice and suggestions - I really take them to heart! Below are the answers to my own questions, as of 6 months into motherhood :)

Books: Lexi loves ANY kind of book. Her favorites are definitely...all of them. I do love the Sandra Bouyton books, and any touch and feel books, but honestly, I think that once you start reading to your baby, read to them often often often. I started to read to Lexi before she could even realize what I was doing and now she is a total book lover! I hope this continues! I buy used books from DI and Amazon and new books from WalMart, Amazon, or other cheap sites. GET BOOKS FOR YOUR BABY! I also make my own books out of small scrapbooks. Mostly, we go to the library at LEAST twice a week and check out books. You can have them for up to 6 weeks and you don't have to buy any - free books - immense variety!

Toys: Lexi loves kitchenware (whisks, spoons, spatulas...), keys, books, "Mr. Ducky", and anything she can get her hands on. I always have toys with me! There are always toys all over her blankets on the ground so she can have fun fun fun! I buy toys from Walmart and Amazon. Infantino and Bright Starts our the favorites and also very affordable. You can also make your own toys using anything you have. I've made a ribbon stick (big popsicle stick covered in various colors, sizes, and textures of ribbons), Shakers (cleaned baby food jars with dry beans inside), Balloons (blown up to a medium size either empty or with beans inside), Puppets (sock, felt, etc.) Check out books on how to make them from your local library for more ideas on homemade toys.

Activities: Lexi's favorite things include jumping, singing, tickling, "Super Lexi", reading books, and crawling EVERYWHERE. I think babies should definitely be able to use their imaginations, and have the opportunity to laugh often! We read books the most, I think. That and letting Lexi explore on her own!

DVD/TV Show: HUGE fan of Baby Einstein DVD's. We check them out from the library and they're fabulous. Lexi also likes any show/DVD that has lots of songs. She loves to giggle at them. Baby Einstein hold her attention the best and they're also specifically geared towards babies and teach them things. Great invention!

Music: Any kind that is uplifting! Lately, Lexi has loved to listen to her "Calliou's Favorite Songs" CD. We also have learning songs, Primary songs, Raffi, instrumental, you name it!!! I think the best music for your child to hear is your own singing voice. I sing to Lexi constantly - either real songs or I make them up! She loves it. I sing to her before bed, in the car, while she's eating, before we start an activity....SING. Just do it. Everyone can sing.

Ear Piercing: I go back and forth with this one. Sometimes I like the idea, other times I feel it's not for me. Ultimately, I think that it is definitely up to you and your spouse. There are definitely pro's and con's to both options. I think that if your baby girl has her ears pierced, the earrings definitely need to be small studs ONLY. We are not sure when we are piercing Lexi's ears. If we wait, it will be at an age where she doesn't have anything else "major" going on so she can look forward to the more important things (8 = baptism; 12 = Young Women's) instead of ear piercing.

Tummy vs. Back: Lexi sleeps on her tummy. SHOCK?! I know, I know, you're supposed to do the back thing, but I believe that babies should sleep however is more comfortable for them. Lexi sleeps the absolute best on her tummy, therefore TUMMY it is. Each baby is different, so do what is best! Babies will naturally go to what is most comfortable for THEM: back, side, tummy, etc. Especially once they can move themselves about. So, all in all, I don't believe the doctors when they tell you it is not safe for babies to sleep anyway but their back. Sorry, docs! I'll do what's best for my baby!

Playing: Obviously, as much as possible! I do think, however, that babies need time to themselves to explore and learn and use their imagination. I struggle with playing all the time with Lexi and sometimes don't know WHAT to play. I made an "ACTIVITIES" calendar where I cut off the days of the week and so I just have the boxes and I put a sticker of some sort in each square and came up with an activity to do with Lexi that has to do with the sticker (Sticker of a foot = going on a walk; sticker of the sun = playing outside; sticker of mirror = mirror play; etc) It's a great idea and I recommend every mom to have a "back up" plan when they don't know what to do. Let me know if you want ideas! I have a TON on that calendar!

Cry to Sleep: Not a fan. Yes, babies do need to know how to put themselves to sleep; however, I don't think they should just cry and scream themselves to sleep. Rock your baby, sing to them, lay them down, and if they fuss or cry, don't necessarily pick them up, but soothe them (rubbing Lexi's back works for her, putting her binky back in her mouth works wonders, too). If you do pick them up, just stick in the binky/bottle whatever, don't look at them face to face, and go on with your rocking. They'll cry, sure, but you still have them comforted by you, and then once they're calmed down, into bed they go! Also, I think they should be able to fuss/cry a bit to see if they'll put themselves back to sleep (only for a few minutes! NOT until they exhaust themselves with crying). My opinion. Take it or leave it.

I think it is incredibly important to put the Gospel into everyday. We look at pictures of Jesus, the Prophets (old and present day), sing Primary songs, tell scriptures stories, and more. Babies are so close to our Heavenly Father, and are more capabale of feeling the Spirit than perhaps we are, and need to be able to feel the love that we have of the Gospel, and the love we have for them, as does our Heavenly Father. Lexi has her prayers said every night, even though she cannot say them herself. Habits early = habits learned. Babies understand what you're saying more than you realize. Teach them the Gospel now. Every aspect.

"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" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to 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."

(The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

Calling all Mommies!

Hey all you mommies out there!

What is the BEST baby/kid book?
What is the BEST baby/kids toy?
What is the BEST acitivity to do with your baby?

What is the BEST TV Show/DVD for baby/kids?

What is the BEST music for baby/kids?

How do you feel about baby girls with their ears pierced?

What way do you think babies should sleep: tummies or back?

How often should you play with your baby?

How do you feel about letting your baby cry themselves to sleep?