I want to write you a letter about your [future] daddy. I'm so grateful for him. He has made me the happiest I have ever been. 

He has the kindest smile ever. Sometimes he just looks at me and gives me this smile, and my heart literally melts because I can see in his smile, and in his eyes, how much he cares about me, and how much he just loves being with me. I can't wait to see his smile when he sees you for the first time. 

He is the best tickle monster, and he is such a good sport too. He'll even let you tickle torture him a bit. He's gonna rough you littles up, but don't worry it will be fun (plus you can always run to me for protection!). He will make you tough and encourage you to face your fears. He will tell you to never give up and he will always help you learn. Don't count on him to do hard things for you, he will teach you how to do them yourself, and you will be so grateful for that.

Your Daddy is very clean. He likes to be in a clean house. I'm willing to bet you kids are going to make some hefty messes. Your daddy is going to nag you to clean up those messes and it will make him so happy when you do! But guess what... even if you don't, Daddy will probably end up cleaning it anyways, because he has OCD and because he is nice like that, haha. He always helps clean up. If we are at a family gathering, you can bet we will be the last to leave because he is helping clean up everything. Such a selfless character he is!

He is such a big tease so be prepared for that! He is gonna tease you all day long. Because he loves you. And you will be able to pick up on it so fast and tease him right back! It will be really fun! But if he is teasing you too much, just tell him and he will say sorry and snuggle you so fast, and that being said...

He is the best snuggler. We actually calling it "mawling" in this family, because that's what Daddy does. He will just fling his whole self onto you so you can't even breathe. All in the name of love. Mawl him back okay? He will just love it. So will I!

Oh [future] children. You [will] have the best daddy ever. I just know it. And I can't wait to see it!  

-Your [future] mom.

(This isn't any kind of announcement, though it may seem like it. You can just calm down. Thanks. haha!)

There is seriously nothing I've needed more than a break, and yesterday graced me with such. I got to sleep in and catch up on much needed rest, update my photography website which I've been crazy behind on, get ready (like actually put on makeup haha), be home for almost the whole day with Chance (he had to work until 12:00), and snap a few photos for fun! All my weekends are taken by clients and I don't get home from work during the week until it's dark, so I've been craving that golden hour and to venture out with my camera.  

So I know a lot of people like to do blog posts like this, and I have done similar things in the past, so I'm going to start it up again. I've learned from many personal experiences that when I focus on the positive and happy things in my life, it actually becomes hard for me to think of the hard or bad things. It is all about gratitude for the small things each day. However I am still very much a victim of bad days and crappy moments that just leave me really upset, and really, why not document those too? What better way to see that bad days don't last forever. 

"On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far, is 100%. And that's pretty good."

So I'll usually start of with the crappy stuff. It happens people! Then I'll leave on a happier note.

LOWS

Chance getting sick followed by me getting sick. Restless nights! And we don't get to go see our new niece Sophie because of it!

Dishes on dishes on dishes. How do they stack up so quickly!

Chance's responsibilities at work changing and might not work with his school schedule.

Going to see frozen over Utah Lake, except it's been too warm lately so not exactly frozen anymore.

Extra pages for our wedding album being more than $1 a page! Sheesh!

HIGHS

Chance saying "Ya know, as much as I want to make a lot of money, and have a lot of nice things... Life is good right now! Like really good. We are so blessed."

Sleeping in. Oh sweet sweet sleep.

45 degree weather and clear blue skies (no inversion) in January!

Chance saying, out of nowhere, "Even if nothing else happy happened to me, just marrying you, being married to you, would be enough. It's all I need. I can die happy."

Putting together our wedding album, which I might add has turned into quite the project. I was not expecting that!

My niece Millie (2 yrs old) calling me to tell me she wants to "sleep in Chance's bed!"

Also my niece Layla (1 yr old) giving me kisses when I asked her too! (She is a tough cookie.. haha)

Throwing together delicious meals with the food we have left.

We'll see if I keep this up... Haha.