Half Full or Half Empty....

Crappy things just sometimes happen. Whether it be getting a credit card stolen, losing your phone, or falling flat on your face in front of a large crowd (which I recently did). There will be many times that life will throw you a curve ball; how you react to it will make all the difference.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the "grayish" parts of a day. I notice when I focus on those things, the day just seems to keep going down hill. I try to remember that things could always be worse, and I try to not sweat the small stuff. If my family and I are healthy, then really it can't be that bad. It's hard to always look at the big picture and not get wrapped up in the day to day drama of life, but life is a lot more fulfilling if you remember what is important, and be grateful for what is going well in your life.

The type of people that look at things half full instead of half empty tend to be happier, more successful, and naturally draw people to them. I try to always surround myself with people that look at situations "half full."

I believe that negative people are like a virus. The more I am around them, the more negative I become. In conclusion, try and remember the big picture, don't sweat the small stuff and surround yourself with positive, upbeat people.

It's not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you react to what happens.

I get by with a little help from my friends....

Your daddy and I are very blessed to have so many close friends. Our friends add so much joy, laughter and FUN to our lives!

Even though you are only one year old, I can see you wanting to be "friends" with other little kids. You are so outgoing and have such a zest for life...it's been amazing watching you interact with other children.

It's important to treasure your friends, and treat them with the respect that you would expect from them in return. I have found the more you invest, the more you will get out of a relationship. In addition, the little things you do for a friend really do make a difference; sending a card in the mail, picking up the phone to call someone having a bad day, or even just a hug, can make someone's day that much better. My best friend, and your Godmother Maria, embodies the word "thoughtful". She is one of the most thoughtful people I know which was one of the reasons we asked her to be your Godmother.

Close friends are so important to have, and how you treat them is equally as important. I have been so blessed to have a close group of friends. I can tell all your "aunties"almost everything, and I know they will always be there for support. I pray that you have a best friend or group of girl friends, like I have been blessed with. They make life that much sweeter.

Today you had a play-date with your new bff Soren. Who knows maybe someday he will be your prom date!

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Marry someone like your daddy....

Your dad and I recently had our 12 year anniversary from our first date. I was fifteen he was seventeen. It would be hard to sum up our relationship in one blog post but there are a few things I can pass along to you...

Here are the top 5 advice tips for when you get married in 30 years :)

1. Marry someone that is your best friend. That you can tell anything and everything to and know that they will always keep it between the two of you.

2. Marry someone that is not a jealous person. Any guy that is outwardly jealous, is not the type of person you will want to be with.

3. Marry someone that is smart, driven and passionate about what they do. Your daddy is such a hard worker and puts 110% in everything he does.

4. Marry someone that respects you for you and doesn't try and change who you are. Your dad has always respected who I am, and supported my goals and dreams.

5. Marry someone you can laugh with and most of all have fun with! Laughter helps make any relationship last!

When you start dating...watch out...your daddy will not be an easy one to get around :)

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin,

Happy Birthday

Today, Ellie, is your first birthday, and even though I've already said it to you a hundred times today, I will say it again "Happy Birthday!"

To be honest, historically, I haven't always been a huge "birthday person", but like so many other things in my life, over the past year since you were born, my eyes have opened, my mind has changed, and I now see birthdays in a completely different way.  Before, birthdays always felt like a bit of a formality, something that people do for each other to make them feel special.  Now, that may be a bit more "scrooge" than I how I actually felt in real-life, but there was always this feeling of "I have to get a gift" for whoever was celebrating.  Other times, so often, birthdays are used as an excuse to "celebrate" which typically means act irresponsible, spend too much money, drink too much alcohol, or even worse.

Although much of this is all too true with birthdays today, today, is your birthday, and to me, it means something very different.  One year ago today, is the day that my life changed forevermore.  This is the day that an extremely happy man, somehow became indefinitely happier.  This is the day that you and I first met, I first held you in my arms, and your mother and I shared our love for each other with you as our newest addition to our family.

Thinking about that day quickly leads my memory from then until now.  It reminds me how you've become who you are today, the little person you are growing into.  It also reminds me how I've changed, how you've shaped me, and how you are influencing the person that I am becoming.  Because of you, I am trying to be a better father, husband and overall person.

This is what birthdays are really about, not the formalities, but celebrating the importance someone plays in your life.  This is why I will buy you obnoxious amounts of gifts, throw ridiculous parties, let you eat unhealthy amounts of sugar, and probably let you get away with almost anything.  Today, your birthday, isn't really that special, well it is special, just not any more than any other day.  Today reminds me how special every day truly is, and I need to somehow show you that...even though whatever I do can't really compare to how much you mean to me.

The only shame is that in "regular, everyday life," we rarely think like this.  It's not very often that we remember how special "regular, everyday life" is and how special those around you are, the people helping make it that way.  That is something I need to make a point of doing better in the future.

Elliana, happy birthday love!  I love you and thank you, for just being you.

A year of firsts...

Warning: This is a very sappy post :)

I can't believe you, Elliana, have been in our lives for a year already. Tomorrow is your birthday and I find myself reflecting back on how wild and beautiful this year has been. A year ago today, your daddy and I were walking around the mall (I was very large and not in charge) hoping it would help me go into labor.

Well, it worked, and at 7am the next morning I had my first contraction. You were born at 3:18pm. The waiting room held all the grandparents, some friends and also 18 high school girls, that I coached. The team had skipped school to be in the waiting room. Three different nurses came in asking me "so what exactly do you do?" They were wondering why there were so many high school girls there!

You were beautiful from the day you were born. Everyone would say she is so pretty! We thought you were the most beautiful little girl we had ever seen!

One of my favorite memories is the second day, in the hospital. It was just the three of us laying on the bed in the hospital room, all day, watching TV and letting you sleep on our chests....it was the first full day we were a family.

The first few months were a blur, mainly from the lack of sleep. You Miss Ellie, were a HORRIBLE sleeper....you were up every 2 to 3 hours. Your dad and I would look at each other most of the time and didn't know whether to laugh or cry...we did both. There were many nights that your daddy would let me sleep and take you down to the basement where you would sleep on his chest, for most of the night. This was your favorite place to sleep.

It always seemed that you were always one step ahead as well. You didn't want to be held like a "baby" even at 2 months old. You wanted to face out and see what was going on around you. You were sitting up and scooting around long before you were "supposed" to be and baby food only lasted about a month. You wanted big girl food by 7 months! You have always been one step ahead and we hope you carry this with you all throughout your life!

This year has been a year of firsts; your first smile, tooth, tear, laugh, crawl, walk..... It has been the culmination of all these little moments that have made this year so extraordinary. You light up our lives every day with your big smile and zest for life. We love you more than you'll ever know.

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

Happy Birthday Baby girl!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Laundry 101

Laundry 101.

So I have posted quite a few serious posts...so it's time for more of a "motherly" post.

Sometimes I love it, most the time it's an annoyance. But one time of doing it wrong, and ruining a load of clothes...you'll wish you would have paid closer attention!

So here are my laundry tips.

1. Always separate whites and darks. Do not wash everything together on cold. Your whites will not get as clean and will look dingy.

2. Whites should be washed in warm and colors in cold. I don't buy into washing whites in cold with cold water detergent. There are many other things to help the environment.....still wash your whites in warm.

3. Stains- Always pre-soak stains before you wash. If you have a red wine stain put salt on it...let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Brush off and spray onto stain a 50-50 combination of liquid dish soap and hydrogen peroxide. Then throw into wash. This should get almost any stain out.

4. With nice clothing you should turn it inside out when you wash it. Honestly, I don't take the time, but I should do this!

5. If you dry your nicer clothes, never use high heat, only medium or low.

6. If you are drying heavy items such as towels, blankets etc. Put a dry towel in the dryer. The dry towel will absorb a lot of the moisture so it takes less time.

7. If you are lucky enough to have a clothes line...hang everything out to dry. It smells the best and saves energy.

8. And yes Miss Ellie we will be doing your laundry together some day :)

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry. ~E.B White

Stick to your guns...

As of right now, you Miss Ellie, are throwing a tantrum crying in your crib not wanting to take a nap...well missy you need one and eventually you will fall asleep. (Don't worry you are not neglected I just know when you need a nap!) Even though it is so hard to listen to you cry I know we need to stay firm because you need to learn to fall asleep on your own.

It makes me think about how important it is to stick to your guns when it's something you believe in. In today's society it's hard to stick to your beliefs and what your values are. Women often times compromise who they are to please others...men and women. I often times find myself wondering, "Am I doing this because I want to or am I just trying to please other people?" It can be a hard question to answer...but I do know one thing...if what you are doing, matches up with your beliefs and values...it is probably worth doing. Just hold firm in your beliefs and stay strong in who you are and you will go far in life sweetie.

As for me I'm holding firm...I'm not letting you not take a nap, hun...but I love you!! XO

"Choose beliefs that serve your soul - choose beliefs that serve the grander dream of who you choose to be." ~Joy Page

Passion

This is a topic I am very "passionate" about...

Following your passion.

I was a high school dance team member for 4 years, then danced in college for two and continued to coach a high school team for 7 years all while I completed my undergrad in Health Education and Graduate degree in Public Health. Coaching had always been a "side" job for me, and I knew that I could never make a living off of it. I love teaching and public health, but my true passion in life is working with young women, and coaching dance. It had always been a dream of mine to coach at the University of Wisconsin, and I pursued that goal until I achieved it. That that is where we are today...in Madison and coaching the UW dance team. I am very blessed that Nate (my husband and Ellie's daddy) is able to provide enough for our family that allows me to coach and be at home with Ellie during the day. I truly feel like I get the best of both worlds. I know someday I will go back to teaching but for right now I'm following my passion and it is so rewarding to be doing so.

It's not always easy or feasible to follow your passion in life. There are typically a lot of roadblocks, financial strains, etc. that will set you back. But if you find what gets you excited to get up in the morning or talking about something till you turn blue in the face...that is your calling and in some capacity you need to add that into your life.

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."

Don't Rush

Welcome to my blog! This blog is going to be random ideas, lessons, and adventures that I want to pass along to my 1 year old little girl, Elliana. It may be things that I learn during my daily life being her mom, a coach, a wife, a teacher, and a friend that I want to share with her and everyone here that would like to read this.

Being a teacher and a coach, I'm consistently to write down the lessons that I want to share latter, and this blog will give me a chance to do so with what I want to pass along to Ellie.

The first lesson today is: Don't get too busy to stop and appreciate what is around you. I ALWAYS struggle with being "in the present" and not appreciating what is going on around me. I find that  many times, if I am working, I want to be home with Ellie, and when I am home with Ellie, I am thinking about what needs to get done with work, etc.

Today I was rushing around to get out the door to the grocery store. We didn't have to be there at a certain time but for some reason I was rushing...I couldn't find my keys, was holding Ellie, was walking too fast and dropped and cracked my phone. Needless to say I was not a happy camper, but I had no one to blame other than myself. Ellie, take time to slow down and appreciate what is around you and what is going on at that moment. I'm sure if I hadn't been rushing, I would not have dropped my phone, which in turn, would have left me in a much "peppier" mood.

When I think about our society and how often people are rushing around trying to get everything done, I wonder, "Is it all necessary?" If you strip down to just the basics in life, so much of what we do, rushing around, is pointless and leaves us unfulfilled. That's why it's important to not rush and focus on the "good stuff" because there really is so much "good stuff" in our life that we have been given.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather recognizing and appreciating what we do have."