home is where your mom is

This will always be one of my favorite pictures of my mom and I, mostly because I think it really shows how much I think of my mom. I admire and adore her so much. Mother's Day is one of my favorite days because on social media everyone posts about their moms and it always reminds me how thankful I am for mine (and how I wish we had more pictures together).

This past year as a nanny I have gotten a little glimpse as to what the role of "mom" entails. I'm so thankful for a mom who really embraced (and still does) her calling as a mother. I don't remember her ever yelling at me (although I'm sure I thought she was yelling a few times), I don't remember her ever complaining about having to make dinner every night, or take care of sick kids, and keeping up with housework. She still makes sure we are all safe and well taken care of and worries about us girls when things are going just quite right. How wonderful it is to be so loved and cherished. I know she would do anything for any of us.

She is everything I hope to be in a mother. As much as I say I would be happy to have all boys, I want at least one girl so that I can have the same bond with my daughter as I have with my mom. There is nothing like our relationship and saying she is my very best friend doesn't even scratch the surface.

Thanks mom for being there for me through the thick and thin. For always being my biggest fan. My world is a better place because you're in it! I love you!

the smallest things take up the most room in your heart

Tonight I lost it on Brad. Now before you go thinking I'm a CrAzY wife let me explain. It may just be because I'm super emotional but I figured I might as well blog about it on a day where I'm feeling super sentimental about my job.

My dad always said do something you love and you'll never work a day of your life. I can honestly say I love what I do. This specific job has stretched and challenged me in so many ways but my heart has never been more full.

They always say you never really know love until you become a parent, and you guys I can't even comprehend that kind of love. My mind is blown just trying to think about it. I love my parents, sisters, and husband more than I could ever imagine and little Ella has opened my eyes to a new kind of love and she's not even mine.

This past month she has done so much growing up, and it's really bittersweet. I came home and just cried thinking back on all that her and I have been through. I started watching Ella when she was little over a month old. I remember those newborn days that were spent just snuggling. I honestly held her all day long, I couldn't get enough of her little sleepy smiles. I also remember how bad her acid reflux was and how there were some days where I would just cry because I knew she was in so much pain and I just wanted to take it all away. I remember when her pediatrician kept telling her parents she would never crawl, I worked on it with her every day just to prove him wrong, and then one day it just clicked and she was a crawling machine. Now she is 9 months old, she's standing on her own, knows how to get up the stairs, and is walking with assistance and my heart doesn't know whether to be so happy that she is thriving or sad that she is growing up way too fast.

It breaks my heart to think that one day, I'm going to have to say good-bye to someone who has become such a huge part of my life, and I think that is why I lost it. Ella is more than just a "job" to me. I sit back and think of the immense love that hopefully one day I'll get to experience with my own children. It's an overwhelming feeling to even think about, it makes my heart feel so full, that one day I will know the kind of love that parents have for their children and I hope that I never take one day for granted, because just with this little glimpse into motherhood I know it goes all too fast. Luckily I'll get to keep them for eternity! ;)

I'm so thankful to be a woman, to have the divine calling to be a mother one day. I truly know that it is the most important thing I will do while on this Earth. I feel so blessed to have a mother who loves me every single day of my life. She is the perfect example of what I wish to be to my children, an incredible mother and best friend.

I know it won't be easy but I'm 110% positive that it will be so so worth it. 

March Madness

No, I'm not talking about basketball. I'm talking about how crazy the month of March was for Brad and I. It's hard to believe there are only two more days of this month, where did it all go?!

We have been out of town every single weekend and it's exhausting. I'm so grateful that we are done with our traveling for awhile and that if I want to just stay home and rest I can on the weekends. It's been non-stop and I don't know how people do it, especially when they work full time.

The weekend of the 14th we went back to Georgia for Brad's brother, Drew's wedding. We are glad that Drew and Bailey have finally sealed the deal.

The next weekend I flew back to see some of my college friends tie the knot! I actually introduced them and encouraged D to go for Ann so it was so fun to see them 4 years later becoming Mr. and Mrs. Added bonus was that I got to see a lot of my other college friends too! 

This past weekend was the Hinman Dental Conference in Atlanta. I went to nanny my sweet little Ella and Brad attended some of the classes. Out of all of our trips this month, this one was probably one of my favorites. I made extra money and all of our expenses were paid for but that wasn't even the best part! The best part was that it gave me a little glimpse of what it will be like when Brad and I are toting around a little baby of our own. I'm telling y'all, you think you love a man...well add a baby, and the love grows for that man like a million times more.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend! We are super excited for General Conference, it's one of my most favorite weekends of the year! 

Tuesday Tunes

When I attended college at Valdosta State University I met such an amazing friend, Kelsi. Kelsi is more than just a college friend to me. After I transferred schools we still kept in touch. For one of my birthdays she sent me two mixed CDs. They were such a thoughtful gift especially since now that we have iTunes I feel like CDs are such a rarity. Anyways, I listened to these CDs every single day on my commute to and from school. I love them because they introduced me to music I probably wouldn't have found or listened to on my own. Those CDs have inspired me to start sharing a few "tunes" I am currently loving on Tuesdays. They might not always be new songs, but ones that I always want on repeat! I hope you guys enjoy and share some songs you are currently loving too because I always like to check out new music!

So for my first ever Tuesday Tunes:

Loving You Tonight--Andrew Allen

Thinking Out Loud--Ed Sheeran

Night Changes--One Direction

Sugar--Maroon 5

Valentine--Kina Grannis

Alright friends, that's all for this week! Leave your current faves below! :)

Not Always Fun & Games

This past week was a crazy week for me. A sick baby girl made for a REALLY long week and I struggled a lot. I questioned my ability to be a good mom a lot. I'm sure my mom got tired of me calling and complaining/crying to her everyday this week because as a mom of three she's been there more than a couple of times. I only get a little glimpse into parenthood since I'm just a nanny but y'all the whole parenting thing isn't all fun and games and this week I definitely experience the not so fun part of parenthood.

The "icing on the cake" this week was when our battery died in the car. Luckily, I was within walking distance to work so I left the car in the parking lot and just walked. After I had put in my hours at work I went back to the park. Brad and I share a car so it's not like I could call and have him come and rescue me (plus he was in class) so I popped the hood of the car and pulled out the cables and basically made myself look really desperate for help. Eventually an older gentleman came and helped me and I could've cried and hugged the guy, I was so thankful. I'm also extremely grateful that my dad is basically a car guru and that I can call him and 99.9% of the time he knows exactly what the problem is and approximately how much it is going to cost to get it fixed.

I have to say that when I am going through trials I am more aware of all of the tender mercies the Lord gives to me. I know He is aware of me and the He knows what I am going through and I am really grateful for that knowledge. I am grateful for the people who listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Who reached out to me and helped me, whether it was something big or just as simple as asking how my day was or listened to me while.

Thankfully I had such a relaxing weekend. Usually they feel like they fly by but this time I am feeling well rested and prepared for this next week. I got a lot of spring cleaning done in our apartment, so hurry up spring, I'm ready for warmer weather! :) 

Day of Love 2015

Our Valentines Day this year was really low key and I absolutely loved it. Brad had originally made reservations for us to go to lunch downtown but our plans changed once we realized what a mess downtown would be because of the SEWE Exposition going on. I guess the low country takes their wildlife pretty seriously. haha.

On Valentines Eve Brad asked if I would like to go see the sunrise out on the beach the next day. Of course I said yes. I'm a beach lover and will never turn down a trip to the beach even when it was below freezing outside! So we woke up at 6 am and bundled up in our scarves, hats, and coats and headed to Folly Beach to watch the sunrise. I'm so glad it wasn't windy on the beach or else I would have frozen to death. The sunrise was beautiful. The sky was all different shades of pinks, blues, and purples and it was fun to just take time to sit and talk as we were surround by such a beautiful sight. After the sunrise we went and grabbed breakfast at one of the restaurants out on Folly, then came home and exchanged gifts, and climbed back in bed since we got up so early on the one day we have to sleep in. The rest of the day Brad spent studying (who schedules TWO tests for the Monday after VDAY?!), I went shopping for shampoo and conditioner (exciting stuff, I know), and then later that night we met a group of our friends at Longhorn Steak House for dinner and dessert.

Brad did such a wonderful job with Valentine's Day this year. Honestly I couldn't feel more blessed to have him as my forever Valentine. I got a dozen roses delivered to me on Friday, along with a box of Reese's chocolates, and beautiful earrings to replace my anniversary earrings we got in Mexico that turned out to not be made of high quality materials. In the past I have done the 14 days of lays for Brad leading up to Valentine's Day but this year I decided to take a different route and went with just the 5 days before ending on the actual Valentines Day, I went with the theme of the 5 senses so each day he got a small gift that coordinated with hearing, smelling, seeing, touching, and tasting. It was fun to come up with little gifts for each one that he would enjoy.

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend!

Valentine's Day Couples Dinner

When we lived in New York we had friends in our ward who hosted a valentines couples dinner each year and I loved this idea and decided to steal the idea and make it one of our traditions! So last night we hosted the first annual Valentine's Day Couples Dinner hosted by the Schmidt's! ;)

Honestly I had SO much fun planning this and it turned out so wonderfully! I love a good party complete with cute decorations, good food, fun games, and wonderful company. Our apartment is a cozy one bedroom so it was a small group, and while we wish we could have had more friends over, we were thrilled with the turnout that we had! 

 We kept the menu and served soups (potato & chili), salads (ceaser & spinach mix), bread (corn bread & rolls), and asked everyone to bring a dessert to share. Which worked out perfectly! We played a "how well do you know him/her game" and the newlywed game which always makes for a good time.

Each couple left with a mixed CD of love songs and some pictures in our "photo booth". Brad and I had such a fun time compiling a disc of romantic songs. And let's be honest I love any excuse to pose with silly props, Brad secretly wishes we never took pictures, but at least he always willingly cooperates.

I'm so glad we have started this tradition and I can't wait until next February to host another one! ;)