soak it up

   

i can't believe i'm in my third trimester now (well a week ago).
not going to lie, i'm kind of sad to leave tri two behind.
it was so nice to have a little more energy and not be a giant hipo
and still fit into most my clothes...minus the jeans.
those stopped fitting ages ago as soon as my belly popped out..

i really do enjoy pregnancy. undoubtedly it's my lack of patience that
wants things to hurry along, but i kindly remind myself to embrace every stage.
her little elbow, or knee, what ever the round knob is poking out my right
side at all times is so strange. i almost can get a hold of it before she pulls away.
her crazy flailing is one of the most incredible experiences pregnancy brings.

life has been very busy for us. which is just the way i like it.
when i don't have a lot to keep me busy, i find myself feeling down.
even if one day i don't have any plans i kind of get antsy and grumpy.
most people would kill for a day of just lounging around. not me.
even if it is a play day with a friend or a trip to the store, it makes my day.

more to come on the birthday planning, nursery and the steelster moving to a big boy bed.
..................
xoxo
em

bring on the sunshine

i don't even know how warm it is outside.
i think i'll call the "time and temp" hotline like i did when i was ten.
it's gotta be at least 60. it's beautiful out there!

friday's are so enjoyable because brett only works a half day so he get's home at noon.
when he and steele wake up from their naps we're going to go for a walk.
we already had a picnic out on the play ground and yes steele was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

whipped out a few cute felt bows last night for lil miss sunshine.
think these are a few of my favorites so far and were seriously a sinch to to make.
made the yellow ones small enough so they can be worn when she is a newborn.
have any of you eve glued a bow on your newborns head?
i don't know how that works exactly but i like the idea.

i figured i'd sport the blue bow today.
no joke steele saw me put it on my head and he said "so pretty mommy".
i don't think i ever tell him he looks "pretty" so i'm not sure where that came from. ha.

happy sunshine to you all.
i hope you can get out an enjoy it because i am.

nuggs

lil nuggs is my best friend. 

really who wouldn't be your best friend

 after spending almost two straight years together.

everyday is smiles, laughs and adventures.

steele will be two at the beginning of april.

two years! the first year went very quickly but 

the second year went by like a few months would.

when steele was first born i soaked up every second. 

i think a lot of this was because i love the baby stage

and was not really looking forward to the age where 

steele is at now. i thought by this age steele

 would get to that not so fun age of wining, bratty 

two year old. i never knew how sweet and 

light hearted steele would be. i know i got lucky 

with this little guy. he is absolutely lovable.

lately we have been spending most our time outside.

i happen to be a "true utahn" and like

the snow. my favorite are the big storms that 

bring loads of snow. i love letting steele

look out our balcony window and see his

eyes light up. nothing is better. 

after the last snow storm about two weeks ago,

i got steele all hyped up about going out and

building a snowman. i got all of our snow clothes on

and got ready to go out when steele said "i so essited!"

{note: steele still doesn't know how to smile with his eyes open}

snow never sticks around this time of year. 

it all melts hours after it falls. i don't mind when it melts. 

the sun comes out and it is spring again.

when the sun is shining you will find us outside. 

spring is so near it makes me smile. 

below is our "swamp" out in front of our condos.

it is a little stream with fish and this particular 

day we saw a large crawdad. tea wanted more than 

anything to dive in and eat the thing but

 the water is too muddy for me to let her. 

steele can't get enough of throwing 

rocks in and spotting out the fish. 

how could i not be in love with this little man. 

i love being in his world and i love him in mine! 

love you little nugget.

...................

xoxo


oh and funny story:
sunday 20 min before church i get a call informing me
that i will be released and recalled as the young women's
second counselor. yep, this will be my third presidency.
lesson learned. don't make assumptions.

for the youth

i have learned so much from being in the young women's program. i'm sad to say this sunday i'll be released after going through two presidencies now. it's been a lot of work but i have come to love each one of my young women. i'm the second counselor so i am with the beehives most of the time. we have a lot of inactive girls in our ward as well as many that come from split homes. this means a lot of back and forth between mom and dad's house. we also don't have much parental support. it is a strange thing for me because growing up it was never really an option not to go to church or activities. i was always encouraged to go when i didn't want to. definitely not the case in our ward. i feel like we have done so much to help the girls want to come to church and activities and we slowly activated a few. it is the best feeling in the world we you see one of your young women walk into church or say "yes come pick me up". really i never knew how much i would start caring about these girls and their future. my heart was really in it for them. 


i also got the opportunity to teach. this was my first teaching experience other than nursery and primary so i was very nervous. youth are difficult to teach because you have to keep their interest while teaching gospel principles. i wrote this poem for one of my sunday lessons. i really enjoyed writing poems for the young women.  

Who is She?

Faith is hope, Faith is love

Faith is trust in Him above

With marveling eyes I wonder how

Yet I know without a doubt

I am a daughter of a King

Divine I am in everything

My role is grand here on this earth

I have been noble from my birth

My worth is of rubies oh so fair

It strengthens me to evade Satan’s lair

Inside I know the truth of my heart

As does He, “How great Thou art”

My knowledge grows each new day

To learn of Him, is why I pray

I study in Faith to know the truth

Pledged I have, for I am Zion’s youth

Good or bad I must choose

My merit I will never loose

A gift to me, a whispering voice

Eternally, I will make the right choice

Blessed to serve those around

My Savor, now I have found

My works and actions are in play

This is my destiny in this latter-day

Honest in my daily life

To better myself and avoid much strife

With pure heart and two pure hands

I do as the Lord commands

Now at a caliber that will withstand

My virtue is above all the land

I am she of purity

Never swayed or worldly

Personally I must progress

I will always put forth my best

Striving to return to Him

I will refuse the urge to sin

With His guidance I surly know

Which path to choose and where to go

With the Savior as my guide

I will always have Him by my side

-Emily Brady, 2010 




below is my most recent poem. i wrote it this past week for our stake new beginnings program that i was in charge of. it was all put on me last minuet and i was very intimidated but it turned out to be such a great night. i had this analogy in my head of relating popcorn kernels to the young women. i had several different thoughts but i liked how the poem turned out. we did white chocolate cover popcorn in all the different value colors. in cellophane bags we put an assortment of the colored popcorn with the poem attached. they turned out really cute.

{i wish you could see the all colors better. the popcorn turned out really yummy.}

A quaint little kernel no imperfection is found

It is meek; it is humble and perfectly round

For this little seed knows not what it will be

Its potential unknown, faith is now the key

In goes the kernel to the piping hot popper of life

How will this tiny pearl deal with such strive?

Through the heat of life perseverance is learned

Boiling hot heat for good can be turned

Blossoming and blooming each at its own pace

Kernels bud one by one, for it is not a race

Unique each blossom, the heat now subsides

The flower knows its beauty, it finally flies

Possibilities are endless for flavor and for flair

Some candied and kettled, some savory and rare

Delicious each variation is to savor and to eat

Just remember the journey of this tasty treat 


-Emily Brady 2011

{feel free to use either of these poems if  you are in young women's}