Grin and Bear it...or Don't

I have hesitated to blog lately. Here's why: Every time I look at my blog title I am a little discouraged.  While it makes a punny blog title involving our last name, "grin and bear it" is an awfully optimistic saying, and I tend to have a more realistic (ahem-negative) view on life. What if I don't want to grin while bearing it? What if I can't?

If I have learned anything in my last 23.5 years of life, it is that life is full of opposition. Life is challenging and disappointing and one trial after another. There is no escaping the heartache and the exhaustion. I cringe when I hear the popular saying "God won't give you more than you can handle." I know of a surety that He certainly will give us all more than we can handle. And it hurts.

But that's the point. If life was easy, we wouldn't turn to Christ for help. We couldn't progress and grow if we weren't being challenged. We simply can't bear these burdens thrown at us on our own. And that is the whole point of the atonement. This blogger says it perfectly.

I'm not suggesting we might as well just wallow in self-pity. I think it's important that we are strong. It's important that we sort through the muck and find things in this unfair world that make us happy. Really soak in those fleeting moments of pure joy. Because they are out there too. And those moments are what makes this life worth living.

My point is: I am not always going to grin through my trials. I don't think that is what's expected of us. I think we are expected to do our best. And that is what I plan to do.

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23)

Some Thoughts on Having Two

I've had several people tell me going from one kid to two kids is the hardest transition. I can't verify that yet, but I can verify that two kids is harder. Period. Here are some conclusions I've drawn since Brady was born:

1. I am nursing, and changing diapers, and nursing nursing nursing, and changing diapers. This is how I am spending my days now. Now throw in getting the toddler fed, trying desperately to manage her newfound tantrums and attitude, and nursing some more...there is very little time for anything else.  Getting everyone bathed, and dressed (this includes myself), and out of the house even for a walk around the block is a much bigger accomplishment than I thought it ever could be.

2. Keeping up with the housework is next to impossible - but an untidy house stresses me out. So I make time! I am tired.

3. I miss having time to myself. At this point, it is hard to believe I will ever have time to read a book (I'm talking a book with no illustrations and more than five words on each page), work on any projects, or exercise ever again. I got one of those coloring books for adults that everyone is raving about these days. I got it right at the end of my pregnancy and I loved it! Now I'm afraid the pages will remain colorless forever.

4. Carly is TERRIBLY two. There is a saying that a toddler is like a blender with the lid off. Now add some extreme sass and a dash of dictator and you've a got a two year old Carly. She is very obviously feeling what it's like to share her parents with another kid and she isn't crazy about it. Fortunately she LOVES "baby budder" and only shows her darkside to Mom and Dad.

5. A handful of you know while I was pregnant with Brady, a few sad, stressful, and downright scary things appeared in my life quite suddenly. I truly feel that Heavenly Father sent me this beautiful boy to lift my spirits when no one else can. He is a blessing through and through. I love and treasure him more than I can say. He is calm and sweet and everything I need right now.

6. Despite the stress and tears having two kids brings, there are countless and fleeting moments that make it all worth it. The three of us took a walk the other day. Brady fell asleep on my chest, and Carly was holding my hand while softly singing one of her made up songs. I could only smile. In moments like that, I have never felt such a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

I've got this!!

STEM Fest and Temple Square

Last Friday Matt volunteered at Utah's first STEM Fest (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics...I didn't know.) and decided it was cool enough to bring Carly and I back to see it later that night.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but they had a ton of cool booths set up!  First we went in this Air Force jet simulator that played footage of flying through the sky and falling and all that. It shook us around like a roller coaster - so fun!

Matt and Carly sat in the cockpit of this tiny little plane. Carly started pushing buttons like she knew exactly what she was doing :)

Inside they had more booths set up. We only had time for a few, but here were our favorites.  I got to experience what it would be like to "walk on water" with a tub full of cornstarch and water! If I didn't keep moving, I sank pretty quickly. I'm sure there's a metaphor there...

At this booth, these guys pulled a bubble up around you with a hula hoop. I wasn't quite fast enough with the camera to catch Matt's bubble before it popped...but you can imagine. When it was my turn, their contraption broke. Thus the surprised look on the man's face behind me. Oops!

 A teeny tiny little owl, and a 3D printer! I'd never seen one before! Man does that thing move slow! Pretty incredible though.

This one was making a dinosaur skull

The next day we were up on Temple Square for a wedding luncheon and took some time to look at the gorgeous spring flowers and enjoy the warm weather. Carly loved the fountains.

She only fell in once.

And she falls in in 3...2...1...

I really am starting to love this beautiful place we live and all it has to offer!

There's No Buddy Like a Brother

It's my brother's birthday. He's somewhere in the Baltic, so he might as well be on Mars. And I miss him. Let me show you why. Here's just a few of the many Braeden-isms :

 

 "Sometimes during a test, I will tap out the answers in Morse code. I figure I'm doing my part."

"So I was sleeping in Math today. Somebody wet-willied me. For extra credit."

  
"If I was allergic to classy, my whole life would be a sneeze."

"Lady Gaga was not born this way. If she was, the doctor would have said, PUT HER BACK IN!"

"Ke$ha looks like, if you touched her, she'd be sticky."

After working concessions during my high school's basketball games all day, I came home smelling like popcorn and hot dogs. On the way to the shower, Braeden encouraged me to skip it because he promised it would make me more attractive for the school dance that night.

I found this to do list in his room one day:
Write letter
Driver's license
Topple South American government
Build giant slingshot 
Fling enemies into sun

"This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the privilege of spending my childhood with you, Chelsea. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness," but most importantly, it was by far the best sixteen years of my life. Thanks for everything. Keep in touch. Love you, Chels."

Braeden is away from his family for 2 years so the people of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus can spend an eternity with theirs. I'm so proud of him. But let's be honest; I'm counting down the days until I can see his face again!
 

Saying goodbye for 2 years, but not forever!

Happy Birthday "little" brother! Love, Chels

What I've Learned: Part 2

A few weeks after Carly was born, I blogged about what being a mom had taught me (here). She's 6 months old now, so I hope I can add a few more things to my list.

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1. Anybody who knows me knows I am not a patient person. But somehow, with this little girl I have found patience! I can hold her while she cries, change her diapers in the middle of the night, wipe the peas off her eyebrows (and mine), and do anything within my power to keep her happy without any complaint (usually).  Maybe it's because she is so cute.

2. I never expected to have a friendship-type relationship with my kids until they were older, but I am happy she has become my best buddy at such a young age.  She laughs at my jokes, and I laugh at hers. We are inseparable not only because we should be, but because we want to be!

Which leads me to...

3. Separation anxiety.  She's got it, but you better believe I've got it too.

4. Every move she makes is SO FASCINATING.  Learning to sit up, trying new foods, reaching for toys, eating her toes, singing a song... Sometimes I forget this stuff might not be so interesting to others (her bowel movements for instance) but other parents usually understand.

5. Her laugh. Literally the most beautifully happy sound my ears have ever heard.

6. She's so cute, guys. I want to eat her. I want to nibble on her chubby knees. That's normal right?

7. I'm starting to get a better idea of how much my own mom loves me.  Even better, I'm getting a better idea of just how much our Heavenly Father loves all of us.

Mothering children rocks. More please!

Matthew

*WARNING* 

You could say my husband and I are still in that "honeymooning" stage.  I am about to brag about him A LOT.  And get a little on the mushy side.

As our baby's arrival inches closer and closer, I've thought a lot about how this new addition will change mine and my husband's relationship. Of course I am hopeful she will only bring us closer.  But I can't help but be a little nervous about this big change.

There are often moments when we spend time together doing the simplest of things that I just pause and think to myself "I am SO happy! Can this moment please just last forever?" Just give me a moment to express how wonderful Matt is:  

Matt is happy.  If I could only use one word to describe him, that would be it. Easy.  Not in a sickeningly optimistic sort of way.  Just a happy-to-be-here sort of way.  And it's contagious.  Which is good for my ever realistic (*cough* negative *cough*) attitude.

Matt makes me laugh.  It is REALLY hard to stay mad at this guy.  Boy does he know how to work those blue puppy eyes and dimples.  He loves to get people laughing and is always working on his comedic timing.  He has me smiling and giggling all the time.

Matt constantly strives to improve his life.  He is a goal-setter.  It is because of his enthusiasm that we have Family Home Evening once a week, read scriptures and say prayers together in the morning, and put together a meal plan at the beginning of each month, among other things.  He is one motivated man, and I do my best to keep up.

Matt is a really good kisser.  'nuff said.

Matt doesn't take life too seriously.  We're college kids.  Life isn't exactly stress-free.  Money is tight.  But Matt knows how and when to take a break and have a little fun - whether it be treating ourselves with doughnuts on a Saturday morning or putting homework aside for a moment to play a card game with his attention-yearning wife.

I could go on forever.  I love that I get to walk/run/skip/jump through this life, hand-in-hand with this man.

I love you Matthew. You are going to be one fun daddy.  To infinity, and beyond!