Short Week

May 1-6

Lived

- Twice this week i have packed up and drove down to Logandale. Honestly Leighton and I have spent more time down here lately than at home. After this week I think I will stay home until Leighton's blessing. Our first trip down on Monday was to go with my mom and Grandma Handy to Vegas to pick out fabric for Leighton's blessing dress. I am so excited for it. I know it's going to be beautiful! Now we are back down to finish taking senior pictures, but this time we are lucky to have Kaden with us. We both missed him too much so we wouldn't have came without him.

- While in Vegas on Tuesday I happened to lose my iPhone and didn't even realize it was gone until almost midnight that night. I swore it must have been stollen out of my purse when we went to Winco (one of the happiest places on earth). I had my phone all shut off in case it was stollen so no one could get into my accounts. Like the dits that I am I left it on a pattern table at JoAnns and thanks to a miracle they actually had it still. Vein disconnected from my phone. For a day wasn't bad but the thought of losing everything on my phone made me absolutely sick. I really need to start taking pictures if Leighton with a real camera. Almost all of the picture i have of her are on my phone.

- Friday Kaden and I decided we were going to go see the Avengers. We have been waiting forever for this movie to come out and I can't lie we are pretty excited about it. We have this habit though of being late to movies and just about everything. So we leave the house with Kaden all grumpy and of course he has to speed the entire way, faster than the equinox wants to go and guess what we ended up missing the movie. Kaden got pulled over and got a ticket for 15 over. I wanted to scream! For now on i think i will drive where ever we will go. Oh and when we were pulled over the officer gave us a huge lecture on our the baby carrier handle being up while we were in the car. I understand the reason except for at the hospital we were told our model was fine to have it, our car seat manual says its fine, and it even says on the side of the carrier that it is fine. I told the officer to look at the carrier and that it said the handle could be up while in the vehicle. He totally blew me off and didn't believe me. Anyone else know anything about this?

- Friday night was Grace's May day dance. We went and watched. It was great that Kyle and Jess got there early enough to get a spot right by where Grace was dancing. She was a little shy like always, but she did Great!

I got mad at my bangs and chopped them off.

Learned

- Kaden and I booked a cruise from an entire week the first week of October. I realized since i do so much driving, i am slacking on my hole getting into shape plan. Saturday night Katie and i went to the High School and did an awesome work out. I even did some hurdles, and wow am graceful when i do them, not. I realized though i really need to step up my level of intensity now that i am past six weeks and i have reached a very flabby plateau of toning up and losing weight.

work out

after work out

- A major thing i learned this week though was that i really do not have the time to do pictures at the moment. As much as i love to do them, it really is too time consuming for Leighton's schedule. I really liked doing these last senior pictures that i did, but until i know i will be able to focus just on getting pictures edited and have the time to take them i wont be doing them. I really need to focus on Leighton, and Kaden and my home right now.

I also learned how to make onion rings.

Loved

- I know i already said this but i loved Kaden going to Logandale with Leighton and me. I also loved that we went out to dinner with my parents while we were there and that Leighton slept through the entire night Saturday night. She is starting to sleep at least 6 hours every night and i feel like a new woman!

Sleeping through the night

Some Leighton Love

I have a thing for jinxing myself

Lived

- After going home to Kaden last week he decided he was going to spend the weekend out in the hills with some friends. So I packed up Leighton and mines things and we headed right back to Logandale Friday afternoon. I was sad to be away from Kaden again so quickly but glad that he was going to have some fun.

- I got to have some fun over the weekend too. It was my best friend Camille's bachelorette party in Vegas and my family was willing to watch Leighton for me. Let me tell you, it is not easy leaving my beautiful little 1 month old behind. Sometimes I was wishing I took her with me but I was glad I didn't when we went dancing both Friday and Saturday night. Camille is one lucky girl, not only does she have me as a friend ;) but she has a bunch of other amazing girls by her side as well. It was so nice getting to know all of them and getting to really play in Vegas with ladies who know how. Saturday night we got all done up, went out to Dinner, and then headed to Hyde an upscale club at the Bellagio. We danced our little hearts out. But sadly I couldn't stay all night because I was on a strict pumping schedule and realized I was way overdue when I leaked all down my dress. Luckily everyone knew I just had a baby (seriously everyone, once cami got a few drinks in her she let everyone know how good I looked for having a baby.) and luckily this was not the most embarrassing thing that happened to me all night. I am sadly so serious about this, I fell flat in my face in a heels and a short dress in middle of the cosmopolitan. It was great, one moment I was looking at my phone, the next I was eye to eye will the slick marbled floor. What can I say I'm pretty talented.

- Leighton and I stayed in the valley until Wednesday. It felt like forever being away from Kaden for so long. After doing some senior photos on Wednesday I quickly packed up with the help of my sister and took off towards home. Just getting back to Cedar was an all day event. I had to stop to feed Leighton and could only offer her a bottle ( the result of something I learned) and then she had a major blowout all over me and herself. So I looked real good shopping at both Target and Costco poop stains all down my legs.

(Grandma Handy's first time holding Leighton)

Learned

- Tuesday and Wednesday I learned that while I am at my parents I should carry around a box with a lock on it to keep Leightons stuff in like her diapers, wipes, bowes, toys and nipple shields. Within 24 hours my sister hannah's dog ruined a bow, dragged countless clean diapers under my parents bed, took off with Leighton's bunny rattle and worst of all, ate all three of my nipple shields that I have to use in order to get Leighton to latch. My result of not being able to feed for an entire day even though I tried to pump is... wait for it... Mastitis (woo hoo!) I could seriously only hope that wiener dog turns into a coyote meal at the moment. I have never felt so sick in my life. Within an hour of realizing I had it I got a fever that even with taking 800 Motrin was at 101 and not going down, felt like every gland on my body was swollen, like my entire body was bruised, I was going to throw up, and my boob needed to be removed. 2 lortab, another Motrin, and 4 antibiotics later I felt like I was able to function. Never again will I leave anything of Leightons out, nor will I skip a feeding.

Sleepy Girl

- The most important thing I learned this week is that I really do jinx myself. When I was pregnant with Leighton a friend asked if she ever got the hiccups, I replied with a no never, from that moment on (even still) she was the hiccup queen. Then when Leighton was almost 3 weeks old I was asked if I was just so tired all the time. I replied no she sleeps great it's amazing. By my last post you can tell how long that lasted, and she is still colicy. Now the last thing, at Camille's Bach party everyone asked don't you get sire from nursing, of course I replied no it's been great and abracadabra sore nipples and mastitis. I am never answering positively to another question again.

Tiffany likes to lay on Leighton

Loved

- I loved getting to do a little senior pictures photo shoot. I always forget how much taking pictures makes me happy when I take such long breaks in between shoots. I am hoping as soon as I get settled in to being a mom I will have more time for pictures. I love taking, and editing them and really would like to become better at both as well.

- I once again loved coming home to Kaden. There is just something about missing my husband that makes me love being with him that much more. Especially when I come home to him and he completely takes care of me, wish I hadnt been sick, but I loved Kaden wanting to help me. It really was so sweet.

- I also loved playing with Leighton, like always. She is getting so big so fast. She bears weight on her legs, pushes herself up when she is on her stomach, completely holds her head up, makes some cute noises, and smiles so big! I love, love, love her smiles! She will just sit there and smile at me and make noises and really react to what she sees and hears it's pretty amazing.

A Need for Sleep

( A couple weeks late)
Lived

- Last week Cedar was cold and blizzardy and Leighton was fussy and not feeling well. I think she is colicy and it was very frustrating for both her and me. So after a week of screaming, rocking, crying, and feeding along with zero adult interaction, a week with dirty hair and my only work out being walking from the couch to my bed and back to the couch I decided I needed to get out of Cedar. So after realizing how depressed I was getting I packed up mine and Leighton's things and headed to Logandale. Leighton did great on our drive and slept the entire time. Which seriously felt like the first Once we got to the valley we got dressed and headed to the fair. I wasn't planning on going this year but I was glad to watch the hypnotist and eat some greasy fair food and luckily Leighton stayed happy up until we were ready to leave.

- Being in Logandale so far has felt amazing. I can't wait to get back home to Kaden but I'm sure he has loved all the sleep he has got since we left. While I've been down here I have gotten more sleep than before I had Leighton, washed my hair, been able to spend time with my younger sisters and go running outside. Like I said A-MA-ZING!

Learned

- I would have to say that the biggest thing I learned this week is that I have a serious need to take care of myself. When I first had Leighton I told Kaden that I felt like super woman. All of the sudden little to no sleep was alright, if I didn't get to wash my hair for a few days I didn't care, and being in the house all the time was no problem. But after 3 weeks of this I honestly started to feel depressed. I am sure the fact that it was still cold and snowy and that Leighton was so fussy didn't help but I felt myself getting sadder and sadder every day and feeling disconnected. Then the uncontrollable crying came. As soon as Kaden left for work Saturday I started balling. I didn't stop until I was half way to Logandale the next day. Being with my family, having some sun, getting some sleep, and running a few miles really made me feel so much better. As much as taking care of my beautiful little Leighton is my first priority I really need to make some time for myself too.

Loved

- As great as this week has been spending time with my family I absolutely loved coming home to Kaden. I was so excited driving back to Cedar that I felt twitterpaited. Being away from Kaden is always hard. But seeing each other again is always sweet.

I also loved coming home to a clean house. My sister Sarah stayed up the night before I came back and cleaned the kitchen, the floors and the living room.

(I know it looks like all Leighton does is sleep, but its not, i just needed to share the few moments that she did)

Easter Weekend

Lived

- Thursday after packing, going to the doctors, getting the car washed, and feeding Leighton we hit the road and headed for Logandale. We stopped in Saint George on the way to pick up Leighton the cutest Easter dress and Kaden and me some awesome Easter presents... Running shoes!

- After getting to Logandale we stopped and fed Leighton and then went down to Grandma and Grandpa Leavitt's to show off little Leighton to Troy and Sally.

-Friday Jimi and Heather and the boys showed up around 11. That's when our weekend really got started. We love whenever we get to see them and it's been almost a year since the entire family got together. We spent the weekend doing what we do best, eating and playing games. All the boys and Sarah and Katie went on an UTV ride and Sunday James and Justice got to find lots of Easter eggs that the egg nazi, grandma, the easter bunny hid.

-We also spent a lot of time with Kaden's family over the weekend. We had a big dinner Saturday night with Penn, Nancy, Kyle, Jessica and the girls, Grandma Alger, Aunt Diane, Vance, Tiesha, Grandma and Grandpa Leavitt, and Donna. It was fun to see everyone and once again show Leighton off. The girls are so cute with her. When we showed up Saturday night Addison and Alaynna started jumping up and down to see her and when we asked them who Leighton was Alaynna said her best friend. Sunday morning we got going early and went and watched the twins and Grace search for their Easter eggs. Well everyone else watched, i fed Leighton so i got to look at the cute pictures afterwards.

Learned

- This Easter season i tried to focus on the Savior more. It was a great idea but the only thing that i really stuck too after Leighton was born was not eating candy for Lent. Yes i survived 40 days of no candy. I need to stick to it though because i definitely over indulged over the weekend and both Leighton and I were very unhappy come Monday morning.

- Since coming home from a weekend of family and fun i have realized that i really need to work on being on a better schedule and i should probably put my daughter down every once in a while. She is just so cute i love having her in my arms! But it gets really crazy when i need to shower or sleep or eat and i can't even set her in her bassinet or bouncer without her waking up and screaming. I know i have said she is a great sleeper, which she is, but only when she is in my arms.

Loved

- As usual we loved getting to spend time with our families, but most of all we loved all of the time we got to spend together and with our baby girl. It was so fun to celebrate our first holiday with her. As much as i want her to stay this little forever i can't wait to watch her run around and find her own Easter eggs. Hopefully by then i will do much better at celebrating the holiday for what it is really meant to be celebrated for. I am sad to say once again we didn't make it to church. But that doesn't mean we aren't grateful for our Savior and for the sacrifice he made so that we will be able to live with him again someday. Our little girl is a sweet reminder of what a great blessing the atonement is in our lives.

Easter Sunday

 

Im convinced that she is a ninja

 

She is seriously getting bigger everyday.

Starting a New Routine

Lived

- Last week Kaden started a new schedule at work. At first I was really grumpy about it and so was he. This new schedule actually gives him days off though and I think we have realized we like that. On Thursday Kaden spent the day working out in the backyard deweeding and building some nice flower beds. Then on Friday we ran errands together and took Leighton out in public for the first time. While we were out we also picked up a bunch of flowers for the yard and planted them that night.

- I went back to the gym for the first time on Friday and it was amazing! I didn't do too much because I don't want to do anything to hurt myself but I could feel the endorphins working there magic as I did my cardio.

- Saturday was so much fun. Both Kaden's and my best friends came to visit us. Cami and Alex and Michael and Whitney were so sweet to drive as far as they both did. Of course they really came to visit Leighton but we aren't complaining. We are happy that she is so loved and we cant wait for her to have some friends. So hint hint both you couples should get working on that.

Learned

- My mom and sisters came to visit again and were here from Sunday night until Tuesday morning. I am not going to lie, I was a little nervous for them to come because Kaden really needed to get his sleep for work and my sisters aren't always the quietest people. I learned a couple of things while they were here though. 1 I really need to learn how to control my OCD and I felt like I tried really hard. It is amazing how some things really freak me out now though and I feel like i'm a germ Nazi. Is this normal for new moms it first time moms to be this way? And 2 I can no longer control my sisters. As the oldest of 4 girls I have always had done pull in any decision my sisters made but not anymore. Hannah and Katie are growing up and are totally their own persons. It is really mind blowing to me when I realize Katie is going to be in high school in the fall and Hannah is going to be a Junior. I thought I was so grown up then and so many life changing things happened to me then too. I can only hope that now that my sisters won't listen to me that they will choose to be strong and kind young women and stay true to the standards they have been taught. I so far am so proud of the girls that they are and have no doubt that they will continue to be amazing.

Katies cute new hair cut 

Loved

- umm loved getting gas for a somewhat affordable price. Thanking the Lord everyday that it hasn't hit 4 dollars yet in Cedar and I am so grateful for smiths rewards points that I can put towards gas!

- I have loved having Kaden home to myself on his days off and not having to worry about him working overtime.

- I have loved spending every moment possible with my little girl and catching up on much needed sleep during the day with her. Being a mom feels like the most natural thong I have ever done and having Leighton in my arms feels like the most natural place for her to be. I am sure I'm going to be in trouble soon though if I don't start putting her down every once in awhile or making her sleep in her bassinet. Right now she sleeps in bed with us. Which I used to think sounded so scary but now it seems like the best place for her I know there are a lot of pros and cons to family sleeping. Does anyone have thoughts on thus? Maybe in just being selfish by wanting her next to me.

- I also loved receiving an email from my math professor that said how proud if me she was for choosing to focus on the most important priority in my life right now, my family. She went on to say that when I return to school she will help me however she can but right now I should focus on my baby and not worry about school. I thought that was very sweet and it really made me feel like made the right decision in dropping this semester.

By the way, my baby turned 2 weeks old on Thursday!