Dear Anistyn

Dear Anistyn,

I often watch you sleep. Especially in the mornings after your Dad leaves to work and I am left wide awake to ponder on all the things I have to get done that day, what assignments or exams I have to prepare for or what I am going to make for dinner that evening. 

So, here I am, watching you sleep. You are almost 10 months old. You have started to sleep through the night, but have also started to refuse to sleep in your own bed. You have one bottom tooth on the right and one top tooth on the left. Can you say, hillbilly?! You can climb an entire flight of stairs, so a baby gate is written on the shopping list. Last week as I was washing dishes I looked over at you and you happily grinned at me while you chewed a mystery treat that I had not given you. First I pulled out a set of wings and then I pulled out a dead wasp. Girl, you're killin' me! Speaking of treats...you eat everything and anything. You can't stand to watch someone eat without them sharing. I love you, really, I do. Because when you pooped in the bath tub this weekend and I caught you with it on your hands I swiped you up so fast to save you. You then thanked me with a slight slap to my lips. So, thanks for the poopy lips that I left on so I could clean you off first. Sis, you're amazing in every way. Every day isn't perfect, but having you in my life is perfect in every way. Xoxo 

Our First Home

Since I can't shut up about becoming home owners on FB, Twitter, Instagram and for some of you - in person- I decided to blog about it too! 

Tomorrow would have been our closing day. We were blessed and closed early! My thoughts...this house was meant to be our home! Seriously though, it really was. 

Last New Year's Eve my husband and I wrote down 5 goals we each wanted to accomplish in the year 2014. Buying a home was top of the list. We had gotten married, had a baby...we were ready for the next big thing. 

Moving back to Vernal from SLC was always in the books for us. We aren't city people, we missed our families way too much and we wanted to raise our daughter in the sticks. For real.

We lived with my in-laws the past 7 months. I LOVED IT. Ben loved it. Anistyn loved it. As we went to get the last of our things tonight Ben stood in his old high school bedroom and looked around. K, this kid makes me tear up instantly. He says, "I've lived here the past 20 something years on and off. I'll never live here again. I am really going to miss it." I saw a twinkle (tear) in his eye. 

Home is where your favorite meals are made. Home is where your old school pictures are plastered all over the walls. Home is where you childhood memories were made. Home is where you were welcomed back after moving out several times. In all reality, you'll never outgrow your parents' home. You know that saying, There's No Place Like Home? Damn straight, there is no place like home. 

This evening I am thankful for my parents and for Ben's parents for making us miss their homes. We love our parents so much and are so grateful for their endless support.

Now..........it's our turn to create this HOUSE into a HOME for our family. XoXo 

Things I Am Excited About

Today I woke up feeling extra excited because:

1) Anistyn's FIRST tooth is starting to come through. Anistyn will be 8 months old tomorrow! In 4 months she will be a 1 year old. DON'T BLINK is right. She says DAD-DA-DA-DAD often and it makes me wonder when she will start saying MUM. She is a gem and the light of my life.

2) My sister gets married to the love of her life in 25 days! Her fiancé, Richard, has been in our family since 2009. Richard has felt like a brother to me for a long while now, but I am so excited to have him be a part of our CRAZY family permanently. He also has become great friends with my husband and is a wonderful uncle to Anistyn. 

3) DENVER. Need I say more? Yes? Okay, I will! My sister-in-law, Rachel, lives in Colorado, so the Robinson's are headed their way for some Water World fun! I can't wait to spend time with our family. I love my siblings. 

4) BAHAMAS. My husband and I are going to the BAHAMAS. In case you can't tell, I am excited! I keep calling this our REAL honeymoon, because Yellowstone National Park just didn't cut it. We are going with my brother and sister-in-law, Braden and Whitney. We like to think we are a party bunch. 'We' as in Whitney and I. 

5) Growing up I didn't know what I wanted to be. I felt wanting to be a wife and mother was sometimes frowned upon because women are supposed to be empowering now...a CEO, a world leader, running for president...you get my point! I've realized it's okay to just want to be a wife and mother. Now that I have made my first part of growing up dream come true I am excited to start school again. I am also grateful to have the support of my husband. 

6) My husband and I are on the hunt for our first home. So far it has been one of the most exciting experiences I have ever had and I would not want to share it with anyone other than my one and only. We have come a long ways since our one bedroom apartment. This man makes our dreams come true!

XOXO 

Catch Up

It's been a while since my last post, sooo let's play catch up! 

In the last month I experienced my first ever Mother's Day. My husband and family made it so special, and I got some fun gifts. It felt like Christmas all over again, but this time Christmas was just for me. I am not materialistic, but receiving gifts for being a SUPER mom was great! We also got to spoil my Mom and Mother-In-Law. 

My husband turned 25! Ben says he is half way to 30, but he really was halfway to 30...10 years ago when he turned 15. 

Our FIRST anniversary. Okay, it is HARD to do something fun on your first anniversary when it lands on a Sunday, which happens to almost everyone on their one year...unless it's a leap year. We went to lunch at Pelican Lake Cafe where I had the BEST root beer drink! Seriously, the mug was HUGE and frozen, lots of ice and need I say more? I used to hate root beer until I realized it helped me produce more milk for my baby and now I am hooked. My mom had a slice of our wedding cake she had froze for us, we went over to her home, took a pic, took a bite and threw that thing away! Freezer burn taste at its finest! Last year we went to Yellowstone National Park and Jacksonhole after our wedding, but it just wasn't a HONEYMOON to us. So, right now we are planning a fun cruise for just the two of us! 

Splash Park Day! I had never been to the splash park in Vernal before. No kids, no splash park. When you become a Mom it's amazing what activities become SO MUCH FUN to you. Anistyn can't really splash yet, but you bet ya we will be there at least once a week. Mom getting her tan on and baby enjoying the sweet Summer time. 

Recently Ben started a new job. This job takes a lot more of his time than his old one, but it's been...FUN. I feel that the time we spend apart makes being together twice as special and we are always out and about doing something with our daughter. Yesterday we attended church and snuck away a little early to spend some family time at Red Fleet. Anistyn loved the sand. In her mouth and between her toes. 

Lots of love from the Robinson's <3

Marriage Is What You Make It

The last few days my husband and I both have said to one another, "I can't believe we've almost been married for one year." A WHOLE YEAR people. My wedding dress is stored in one of my Mom's closets in her home, and believe it or not...ok, BELIEVE IT...I wanted to so badly go put it on yesterday. The closer our anniversary gets the more lovey-dovey I've been acting. You know, those days you just wake up and you just want to squeeze the crap out of your significant other, you text them a million times that day saying I love you over and over again and explaining yourself on how sometimes you don't even seem grateful for them even though you are. Oh, and it doesn't end there. You've totally cranked up the volume on your iPhone while listening to country love songs on Pandora. I'm totally having one of those days, and since Ben is at work and can only text me once in a while I had to jot down my feelings into this blog post.

 

I hope by now I've made you smile and you're thinking of those days that you feel that way about your significant other. I have always said -Marriage is what you make it- THAT, my friends...is the truth. Marriage isn't always rainbows and butterflies. Marriage can also be fights, eye rolling, disagreements, oh and the best one...the silent treatment. I am so excited for our approaching anniversary as husband and wife. I can't wait to share about some of the things I've learned about myself, about my husband and about US on our first year of marriage.

 

TO BE CONTINUED...



Full Time ME

First of all...WHY am I awake at 2:30 AM writing a blog post? My almost 5 month old baby is sound asleep and my husband has a "light" snore tonight. I should be getting the best sleep right now...but instead I'm tossing and turning from the pain of removing an ingrown toenail myself. YUCK! OW! Ibuprofen.

I am also wide eyed because my mind is racing. This Fall I will be a returning student to USU. Full time Wife, full time Mom, Full time Student. I am...excited...nervous...stressed...doubting myself. Pretty normal feelings that young women experience when they're trying to do it all. 

I have felt so behind on being successful as I see my high school classmates graduating from college, earning their degrees or landing that UHHHH-MAZING career/job. I should have left to school right after graduating high school. I should have never taken a year off. I should be graduated by now. 

Then I realize...If I would have left to school, If I wouldn't have taken that year off...I probably would have never, EVER crossed paths with my husband. I would have never had my amazing baby girl. 

It's never too late for school. It's never too late for a family. This is when I realize that I need to let go of the "should have" and just take it one day at a time...and also go back to sleep.

Full time Mom, Full time Wife & Full time Student. I've got this! 

SPRING 2014

Spring!?! What!?! Does anyone else feel like we were just celebrating the 2013 holiday season with our family and friends? I swear, the older I get the faster time is flying by. I'm pretty sure it's because I am having fun. ;)

Spring brings me such a clean and refreshing feeling. Hot cocoa and coffee aren't so appealing anymore, bring on the fruit smoothies and pink lemonade. Suddenly your sweaters, scarves, and boots end up in the back of your closet, bring on the flip flops and short sleeves. It rains, it snows, it's warm, it's cold...but, THE WIND...ugh!

Spring brings back the feeling of being in school and getting that antsy feeling when you know there aren't many days left until you are school-free! For the first time ever, Spring has brought back a nauseated feeling. It was a year ago that I found out I was expecting and started morning, day and night sickness. It's awful to remember such a thing and I hope that this is the first and last time I feel this way about this season.

Spring also feels like a new year. Out with the old, in with the new. Out with the old me. In with the new me. Just like plants, trees, grass, and flowers we can also renew ourselves. I am so thankful that we are able to learn from our mistakes and simply move on with our lives. I have never felt so much peace and joy as I do now. I believe Spring cleaning isn't only for your home, but for your soul too. Here are only three of many things I plan on doing to Spring clean myself.

1. FORGIVE - Forgive anyone that has done you wrong. You can tell them or you can keep it to yourself. I have forgiven and I myself have been forgiven in the past also. The feeling of peace will overcome you!

2. BE POSITIVE - via Twitter I read this from Bo Ramsey: How you feel and look at Monday is a perfect way to see how you feel and look at your life and career! Success starts with Monday! Tell me that is not true!? I don't know how many times I have heard...I hate Mondays...I hate Monday only leads to I hate this and I hate that. Positivity is key.

3. SPRING CLEAN - Admit it...if you aren't on Facebook you're most likely to be found on Twitter or Instagram. SPRING CLEAN, yes...SPRING CLEAN your social media friends!

And here is a picture of tulips, because they are my favorite thing about this beautiful season. Have a wonderful day. xoxo