1. Google. I can't tell you how many times a day I use it to find recipes, ingredient substitutions, answers to all my baby and toddler questions, ideas, and general information. You can literally type anything in there. I used it a ton when I was pregnant and researching VBACs. Modern technology can surely be amazing and a blessing in so many ways.
3. I love my hot showers. Rare but amazing. First thing in the morning, when the hubby can be home and I know that the boys are being cared for. For a few minutes, I can completely clear my mind of worries and stand under the warm water and relax. I don't know what it is but starting the day off clean and dressed (sometimes it can be a day accomplishment to get out of my jammies without the two boys screaming) really does something to my mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Kind of like exercise. If you find the time and energy, it's so worth it.
4. Homemade goodies. Just recently, I discovered the beauty and deliciousness of Pumpkin Bars. A friend made them for a dinner we attended and I have been hooked ever since. Especially after realizing how EASY they are to make and how many they make! One batch makes a huge pan (covering my biggest cookie sheet and then some-aka, almost cake-like thickness). Out of one batch, I can take a huge plate to a social gathering, a few plates to neighbors, and still have several to feed me for a couple days. They are simply amazing and even though I'm not a huge fan of frosting, I have found the perfect Cream Cheese recipe that lightly, lightly frosts the bars while making them completely heavenly!
Another: Chicken Noodle Soup. I could eat soup every day, all year around. Especially homemade chicken noodle. It doesn't matter where I go but if a menu has, "Homestyle Chicken Noodle", I always try it. And I have repeatedly tried making it but as with any meal I make, in my mind I have expectations of what it is supposed to taste like and sadly, my products usually never match up to my high expectations. Only rarely, am I surprised and I'm happy to report that Monday night was one of them! Even Bryce, who taught me to cook and knows quite alot about flavors and spices and will eat anything and everything I make, but is sometimes hard to "Wow" and not a particular fan of soup--enjoyed my chicken noodle. He took one bite and got up from the table saying, "mmm...is this all from scratch?" to come and touch me lightly in the arch of my back as I was serving up my fourth bowl. :) And of course, it was a winner with Brycen. Happy Family=Happy Me. I love easy, tasty meals!!
Lastly, homemade bread. My friend delivered a delicious loaf of wheat bread yesterday and it really was what I lived off of all day. So so yummy. I am going to have to get the recipe.
5. Baby things. Whoever invented the baby car seats that snap in and out of the car was a genius. Cian still sleeps most of the day away and him sleeping in his car seat has given some nice freedom to Brycen and I. We have been able to start attending our regular activities again and it helps a ton that Cian just sleeps through it all. As well as the infant carrier front pack. Cian seems to sleep lighter and lighter as the day goes on (usually around the time I am cooking dinner) and will wake up when placed down so this is how I have been making dinner:
Bouncing while cutting up vegetables should be considered an Olympic talent.
6. Good movies.
Brycen loves watching movies and usually on Mondays, we take him to the library to check out one or two. Once he likes a movie, he likes to watch it over and over. So having the movies a week long period is just the perfect amount of time to let him watch it over and over and return it right as Mommy and Daddy are getting sick of it. This week's movie is Homeward Bound. Does anyone else remember this movie? Makes you laugh. Makes you cry. It's been fun to re-live it. Brycen bawled the first time watching the part where the cat falls in the water, "oh no! The cat, Mommy! Find her!" I still have to reassure him that they will find her every time he watches it. He really gets into the movies and I love watching him, watch it.
The parts that make him smile from ear to ear are so, so fun. Like the ending when the animals come running home. I get the goosebumps every time listening to the music and hearing the actors calling out to their animals as they run towards them, and Brycen can never stop smiling.
Movies, like these, I don't mind him watching while I get dinner on the table.
7. Brycen. I love this kid.
He not only loves his little brother, giving him hugs and kisses all day, but multiple times a day he tells me, "Cian is my friend, Mom!". I love it so much because during the times that I need to change/feed/go get Cian, Brycen usually has no problem letting me do it (rarely: extreme grumpiness/tiredness makes it a whole different story).
And he is growing up.
Dropping Grandma off at the airport.
He entertains himself at the perfect times and is so smart. And just yesterday, I had a very proud moment of him. We had a friend over to play and at one point, the friend pushed him (I didn't see it) but I did turn around in time to see Brycen lightly touch his friend's hand and address her and say, "Don't push me."
No crying. No running to Mommy. And no pushing back (Brycen is not known to push back but I know from being in Nursery that pushing back is a common thing to do in response to be pushed...he is known to do the other two things though). He handled it himself and I loved it.
He also requests daily, "Mommy, hold me. Mommy, hug!" Usually at inconvenient times but when done, become perfect moments when I stop everything I am doing and (at times) hold both kids on my lap.
And with proper sleep....he is the happiest kid I know. He loves to sing, read books, help Mommy cook and clean, go places with Daddy, and play with his friends. At least once a day he says, "Mommy, I want to see my friends!" And he loves to cuddle and still be held at nap and bedtime.
8. Playdates. Like mentioned above, we had Brycen's friend come over to play and it so happens that Brycen's friend's mom is one of my dearest friends here. The kids played and we talked. I LOVE talking, especially when her and I get along so well. So fun.
9. Cian. I love love his little cry. Even a month later, he has it. It doesn't matter where we are, if he cries--heads turn and we hear, "Awww!!! That's a new one (meaning new baby)! How old is he??" I love his littleness.
A whole different experience than with Brycen. I love seeing his blue eyes after hours of not seeing them, napping all day does that. And I love his contentness. If he is fed, not tired or gassy, he is very content to be put down. I also love the smell and feel of his skin. I could kiss his cheeks all day and love how he curls up next to me when I'm too lazy to return him to his bassinet in the middle of the night. Oh and his brown hair. 50/50 chance of either red or brown hair. Love having one of each.
10. VBAC.
I honestly, love that I have been able to experience both a c-section and a vaginal birth. Both experiences resulted in healthy baby boys and I am so thankful for both options. And as having done both, I can now attest that everything I have heard about the two are true. It's amazing that when the body is able, vaginally is so much healthier for the body because the female body really knows what to do and will do it on it's own. My milk came in so much faster (Not sure this has anything to do with it: but Cian came out knowing what to do and nurses so much better and faster than Brycen ever did--a much, much better and easier nursing experience), my uterus contracted nicely and I overall, feel great (even though I had a great, great easy recovery after my c-section). It was also so nice to eat whatever I wanted the moment they returned me to my room after giving birth vaginally--no clear liquid only diet for the first 24 hours. To be able to vacuum my house when needed during these 6 weeks after giving birth is a nice bonus as well as returning to volleyball with my mom before she left and attending couple's volleyball within two weeks (I'm not sure doctors would have approved but I felt great and loved getting back to things so quickly). I do believe it takes awhile for any body to recover from giving birth but it was so nice to just have to recover from birth and not from having a major surgery as well.
However, after saying all that, I'm so glad that having a c-section is an option because I'm not entirely convinced that Brycen could have come any other way...just look at his head! And during the time that I thought I would just go through with a c-section my second time around, I loved, loved the idea of choosing the birth date,having no labor pains, and the whole experience lasting 2 hours max--if all went well.
11. Bryce. He knows me. And knows me well. He worries and cares about me so much. I'm still convinced that the flowers he sent me over a week or so ago (and they are still sitting on the table besides my computer--looking beautiful) was because he was so worried I would get depressed after having Cian. And honestly, I was scared of it too. Baby blues are hard and I'm not sure if they are entirely preventable.Hormones can be crazy business. But I'm glad that even though I can be emotional, I consider myself a very happy person--even after giving birth a month ago. And even when I have a bumpy day here and there, it all seems to melt away when Bryce comes through that door at night.
12. The Holidays: Family. Friends. Food. Snow.Christmas Movies. Skiing. Fires in fireplaces. Ice skating. Hot Chocolate. Christmas Music. Jolliness. Making cookies and treats. The Savior. All of it individually and collectively creates and brings a wonderful spirit that I love so, so much.
13. The gospel. The light and life that brings true happiness. It guides me. Blesses me. And completes me. I find answers, patience, peace, and love that only comes with the knowledge that the Savior lives and died for me and if I do my part, I can live with him, my heavenly parents, and my earthly family again. For all eternity. A truly wonderful promise that I want nothing more than to be fulfilled for everyone. Everyone deserves to know the truth, find happiness, and be sealed forever. I feel so blessed to have been born into the gospel, having a chance to know these things for myself and I'm hoping to do more to share it with those around me.
14. Our home. Keeps us safe, dry, and warm. Where we learn together, eat together, play together, and be together. I am so thankful for a hard working husband that enables me to stay home with our boys. It is a priceless gift and experience and through my thoughts and actions, I strive to make it our little heaven on Earth.
And since it's our first year with a big tree...we have yet to find a tree skirt to help hide the ugly stand so I used a festive blanket of Brycen's. And while putting it around the tree, Brycen came up to me and asked, "Christmas tree cold, Mommy?" haha! 
