The Next Inning

 

The above picture is of my bountiful basket that I ordered on Monday and picked up this morning.  It was $15 and I think it was totally worth it.  Although, I have no idea what to do with the two artichokes...  I'm excited thinking about all the things I can make with it.  I'm determined to  use it all.  We'll see how that goes.

I've been reading a few things that have convinced me that people should only eat meat "in times of famine or winter" D&C 89.   I've decided that for me, that means unless I'm starving or have no other option, I shouldn't eat meat.  I also learned more about the China Study and I'm reading a book called "Skinny B****."  (Please note, this book is very informative but pushes for a vegan lifestyle and has more cursing in a book than I've ever seen.)

I've been "flexitarian" for about a week and a half.  That is a term I got from my friend Lynda. :)  It means, I will avoid eating meat whenever possible.  I am feeling so much better!  I'm eating way more fruits and vegetables (hence my basket) and I don't have tummy and digestive issues anymore either.  I have cut back on dairy but I'm not going to stop eating it. 

Please note, I am not going to push my new eating habits on anyone (Hello, I live with Eric.) and Mabel will continue to eat meat when Eric is watching her but I feel like this is the way my body was made to digest.  I very much believe in what I'm doing and I don't take it lightly.  I will be careful to get the nutrients I need and I will continue to exercise.

Now to the part you all care about!  My Mabel is still as fantastically cute as ever!  She has a new cape I made for her out of an old t-shirt. (Thank you for the idea Brit and Kam!)  She loves it!

It's super girl! A little blurry.  She wouldn't hold still.

Her favorite place to play.

She won the raffle at my work party.

Her first movie.  The Avengers.  She made it about an hour.

Also, I have read the first 4 books in the Mortal Instruments Series in the past two weeks.  Fun read for sure if you are looking for some "mind candy" as my sister Kim calls it. :)

Do over

I've been feeling pretty baby hungry lately.  My sister-in-law just had my cute little baby niece and she is such a doll!
I was thinking more about Mabel's birth and I feel kind of out of the mommy loop because I was never actually in labor.  I have no idea what a real contraction feels like and I wasn't even awake to hear her first cry.  I wasn't the first to hold her and I wasn't even the second or third.  I sent Eric into the special care nursery with a camera after she was 12 hours old and asked him to take a picture so I could see what she looked like.  She was hooked up to monitors and I was still too sick to move.
At the time, everything was so scary and crazy that I didn't mind all this.  I remember my midwife asking if I was okay because a lot of mothers feel cheated and sad when things don't go as planned.  At the time, I was just so relieved that we got her out in time and that I didn't have to be in labor that I had no problem assuring the midwife that I was perfectly fine about it.  And I was. 
Now I feel a little a sad about it.   For our next baby, I want to be awake and I want that moment where they hand you the baby and your husband takes the pictures and you look absolutely terrible but so happy to be holding your newborn. I want him/her to be in the little basket next to my bed. I do not want my baby hooked up to IVs and monitors.  I don't want to be so drugged that I can't remember what anyone is saying to me.
All things considered, I'm still very incredibly grateful for modern medicine and the people who got Mabel get here safely and I know I was lucky.  She was 4 weeks early and didn't have any problems and I recovered quickly as well. 
Eric and I are thinking more seriously about expanding our little family in the near future and I'm scared.  Scared things will go wrong again and we won't be so lucky but I'm hoping and praying that our next miracle will come to us without any more problems.

Personality

I took a personality quiz at work to see what kind of jobs I'm most suited for.  Once again, military service was one of the highest!  I also got personal assistant, broadcast reporter, travel agent, wedding planner, inn keeper (totally my favorite) among other jobs.  Here are my results:

"Gracious, amiable, affirming, gentle, giving, warm, genuine, cordial, kindly, caring, concerned, dutiful, reliable, punctual, polite, tactful, socially appropriate, thoughtful, self-sacrificing, nurturing, people-pleasing, goal-oriented, helpful, cooperative, consistent, extremely loyal, traditional, rule-bound, uncomplicated.  Confident with people, perfectly in tune with others' needs and sensitive to nuances, they are the world's natural hosts and hostesses, efficient managers, event planners.  Their presence contributes graciousness, harmony, fraternity, and fellowship to whatever they are engaged in.  Both female and male ESFJs relate with people in a way that combines warmhearted "mothering" and caring, considerate "inn keeping".  So eager are they to please that they put others' needs before their own, ignoring their personal well-being as they care for the people most important to them.  They seek harmony, avoid conflict, follow the rules, keep their commitments, and ignore problems by pretending they do not exist.  Sensitive to criticism.  Need appreciation and praise.  Particularly concerned with etiquette, should and shouldn't.  Family and home are often their central passion; can be happily consumed by the details of homemaking and raising kids.  Value stability, harmony relationships, and practical, hands-on experience.  The day-to-day events in their lives are carefully planned and meticulously managed.  At their best in professions that provide helpful, caring, practical service to others and do not require them to learn theories.  Pay little attention to information outside their immediate reality, rarely read the newspaper.  They are particularly good at planning events, organizing people, and manage the day-to-day aspects of projects that deal producing tangible results.  When they learn an effective new method, it becomes standard operating procedure.  Their extraordinary effectiveness comes from picking the perfect, tried-and-true procedure from their internal database at exactly the right time. 

Shannon high lighted the green parts  when she felt like they were particularly spot on for me.  Eric agreed that I always put everyone else first and when I got defensive, he pointed out the fact that I don't take criticism well.  I thought that was pretty funny.  

Mostly, these are my natural tendencies but I believe I can over come some of the more negative ones. 

Speaking of personality, I'm not sure my new haircut "is me." But it sure it fast and easy to do in the morning!  I'm still getting used to it but Eric LOVES it so that makes it easier.  For those of you who haven't seen it:

 It's not quite what I wanted.  I'm going to grow out the front so it's more of a swoop bang but I'm pretty darn proud of how brave I was.  
Also please ignore my face.  It's the end of my day after all.  

For Jenn

In response to Jenn's request to read a blog that has not been updated in a while, I decided I would give it a go. 

I haven't blogged much in a while for a few reason but I'm not going to get into that today.  (I know, aren't you disappointed?)

The biggest thing that has happened since I blogged (besides major holidays and birthdays) was my Grandpa Hanson passing on January 31st.  He had had some health problems for a while now and his mind was pretty much gone.  I didn't know my Grandpa very well.  He was the kind of man the worked very hard and said very little unless is was to explain how something should be done.  I wish I could have gotten to know him better but I'm sure he's very happy to be with his parents and his brother.  He had a very hard childhood.  The funeral was beautiful and it was great to see my relatives that I haven't seen in years. 
His passing made me think about the legacy I want to leave behind someday.  I think that I want people to remember me as a someone they loved and respected and they knew I loved and respected them.  That pretty much sums it up.  I now only have one living grandparent, my Grandma Hanson.  I think she's doing alright with my Grandpa's passing but I think she'll continue to have bad days for a while.  My dad had a hard time too but I think the funeral gave him some good closure.  My Dad will leave a great legacy someday.

In other, more trivial news, I lost 11 pounds over the last several months.  Then I got tired of tracking and I've plateaued but I am back in to my pre-marriage jeans so that makes me pretty happy.  I've made some good changes in my diet and I think I can keep it up but I still LOVE sweets.  Keep your mashed potatoes, steak, pasta, bread, and chips.  I will take you brownies, candy, cake and all manner of goodies.

My Mabel is still the most beautiful baby girl I've ever seen!  Her fine motor skills are advanced but, as before, she is behind in gross motor skills.  She's not really walking yet.  She takes about 5 steps at a time but her main way to get around is on her knees or crawling.  I'm not worried.  She'll do it when she's ready.  She just started nursery and she didn't even bat an eyelash.  She loves it!  She did get upset at the end when people wouldn't let her out of the door before I got there.  I think that is one of her biggest pet peeves.  If a door opens, she wants to go through it!   She says a lot of words now and she has a bit of a lisp.  It's the cutest thing ever.  She will not say "Mama"  only  "Dada."  If you ask her to say "Mama" she says "Dada."  She loves bubbles, coloring, baths, and cars.  She doesn't really seem to care about dolls or stuffed animals.  She also blows kisses and throws her hands in the air and says "Ta doa" (touch down). 

And my blog would not be complete with out pictures of Mabel so here she is!

  

Boating in St. George with Sarah and Eric Jackson

In her big girl seat

A bumble bee for Halloween

Ode to Mothers

Tomorrow is my first Mother's Day as an actual mother.  I'm a bit overwhelmed with gratitude to my Father in Heaven that I was able to carry and give birth to my sweet baby Mabel Mae.  I love her more and more every day and I'm so excited to watch her grow.
Being a mother is both more rewarding than I expected, and harder than I expected.  I know I was put on this earth to be a mom.  There is nothing in this universe that is more important than family. Nobody could ever persuade me to ever think having a big wig job, or a big house or fancy vacations or a billion dollars is better than having a baby throw her arms up and greet you with a huge smile when you walk towards her.
I want to mention my own mom.  Kathleen Kae Florence Hanson.  She was a wonderful mother to me and I don't think I ever truly appreciated her for it till I had my own baby.  And, bless her for it, she was here for me through my complications giving birth to Mae. I don't think she'll ever stop taking care of me as long as she lives but I hope some day I can take care of her.
Mabel is named for my mom's mom.  Mabel May Wilkinson Florence.  I didn't know my Grandma Florence well as she passed away when I was about 4. But, as I've mentioned before, I feel a strong connection to this woman of faith and love and humor.  I can't wait to see her again and I think she probably brought her great granddaughter to me. 
My sister Kimberly Kae Hanson Heaton is a fantastic mother and I hope I can emulate her, especially in her patience and creativity.  I've never seen anyone so patient with a tantrum throwing baby and I've never seen anyone put so much thought and effort into holidays!  She has started so many fun traditions with her children and you should see the pictures of her kids themed birthday parties!  More than that, her children know that she loves them more than anything.  I want that for my kids.  In fact, Mabel actually means "one who is loved." 
I've only mentioned 3 mothers in this post but I hope every mother I know feels how much I appreciate them for what they do and what they've been through. (I'm thinking pregnancy and giving birth.  Hello!)   We need good mothers in this world and I'm happy to think that I know several of them. 
We also love the aunts.  Oh goodness do we love the aunts.  It's amazing how every woman is a mother in her own way and we love them and appreciate them on this day as well.
 So here is to the all the women in our lives that have given us love and guidance and good examples of what a virtuous woman is!  Happy Mother's Day!

First Easter

Aunt Kim

My Mom and Aunt Martha

Grandma Keele

Aunt Naty

Aunt Shannon

Aunt Elise

Love Dad

"You should snuggle her if you have the chance.  She will not be this little tomorrow." -Eric Keele March 20, 2011

Eric sent me this in an instant message.  Mabel was in bed and I heard her sneeze.  He's right.  She will be bigger tomorrow.  So I went and snuggled her and kissed her extra from her Daddy.

The Race We Run

My baby Mae is 7 1/2 months old. She is the joy of my life and the most beautiful little baby I've ever seen. She enjoys to sing, chew on her finge rs and toes, kick her legs while flailing her arms, take baths and eat banana cereal.
She does not like veggies, going to sleep on her own, and getting dressed. She is still very tall but she is getting chubbier, which we just love. She is still wearing 0-3 months size. She looks like both of us but I think more like her daddy. When we ask her questions, she shakes her head no. Not that she has any idea what it means but it sure is funny.
Being a mom is an interesting thing. I will speak for myself but I feel as if I've just entered a competition with Mabel. To see how "advanced" she is compared to the average baby, friends babies, and any other baby.
Mother's are always asking when they did what and are quick to brag about the things their baby did really early on. I'm totally guilty of this. We are proud of our little babies and we love every little thing they accomplish.
Now, Mabel still can't sit up on her own. She has a bumbo and we practice sitting all the time but she just doesn't feel like doing it yet. It's completely normal for a baby to learn to sit anywhere between 6-9 months but everyone else's baby is sitting and even crawling! I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes I'm embarrassed that Mae isn't sitting yet. Not because I'm embarrassed by her but because I feel like it reflects back on me as a bad mom. Like, I'm not doing everything I should to get her to sit up. Someone recently told me, "well my baby sat up bu 6 months because we got her a bumbo and we practiced with her all the time." Does that mean that she is a better mother?
I'm going to try not to force Mabel into things before she is ready and when she gets older, I'm not going to force her into things she doesn't want to do just because I want her to be accomplished. I can understand that moms have big dreams for their kids and they want them to reach their potential but I don't want to make her feel like she has to be perfect or that she's any less of a person or any less loved just because she has different tastes and talents.
I'll get off my soap box now.



This is a little video of Mae dancing while Aunt Elise sings in Spanish. :)