Motherly Advice {Oh Deer We've Been Married for 4 Years}

Kaden and I have been married for 4 years now. WHAT!!??

We were married on February 14, 2009 in the Saint George temple for time and all eternity.

Way before Kaden and I ever got married or even engaged I remember driving in his big white king ranch and getting into a full on fight because I said "If I know one thing, my future husband won't be putting a deer up in my house." Obviously that did not sit well with Kaden.

If you know the Leavitt family at all then you would know that they are hunters. My family on the other hand is just from California and was literally in shock the first we saw a real stuffed animal.

For us with arguing comes compromise. It's hard we are both very stubborn and very dramatic. So compromising isn't always easy but it is essential. We have been married now for 4 years and it honestly seems like just yesterday we promised to be together for eternity.

In our first year of marriage we decided eternity would be a very very long time if we couldn't figure out how to get along. So compromise it was. If we fight over something we both know we have to be willing to give in some way. Key word in that last sentence is WE, it is never just one of us that gives.

The time came when Kaden talked about putting a deer on the wall. I not so politely said no thank you then had to give a little. We came to the conclusions of putting some sheds in the house instead. I still don't like them, at least they are supposedly trendy though and if anything they are a part of Kaden. Would he rather have a big ugly deer on the wall? Yes, of course. We both compromised though and agreed on the sheds instead.

Obviously our marriage is not always perfect but truly I wouldn't trade the last 4 years for anything. We have grown so much together and have experienced so much together. Kaden really is my best friend and I couldn't imagine having anyone else by my side. I am so grateful that he wanted to be my husband. Everyday we spend together is something new. He is such an amazing father and example to me and my daughter. We are each other's strength and i am definitely looking  forward to the rest of forever. 

A Few Warm and Sunny Days

Lived

- Last week was nice and sunny. We all seemed to be a little happier around the house. Even Leighton seemed to notice that it was warm enough to be outside. We went jacket/bootless everywhere for a few days and even played at the park.

- Kaden has been studying hard and working hard. I think he secretly loves being a student since he only works like 24 hrs a week now instead of 40+ and 3 days instead of 5.

- I've been catching up on editing pictures and getting my hours up at work. Someone has to bring some money home right? Good thing i love both my jobs. It is so nice to do what i like.

Learned

- I need to get a better cleaning schedule going on. Right now it's kind of like chase Leighton around the house cleaning up her messes as she goes and it's not quite working. I don't know how people with little kids ever have a clean home.

- I'm obsessed with planning Leighton's 1st Birthday. We are going to Disneyland the day of (she's seriously the luckiest little girl) and then having a sweet pink and turquoise vintage themed party on the 30th of march. If you want an invite give me your address!

Loved

- I have loved watching Leighton grow up so much the past month. She is not only walking but running around everywhere. She is in love with her baby dolls. I bought her a mermaid when we were in Seattle and she sleeps with it every time she lays down. She has also started carrying around any small bag she can find like its her purse. She puts it in her arm and everything. I have a feeling I've created one expensive child.

Motherly Advice {Hormone Happy}

So sometimes I catch myself in middle of a freak out thinking "what in the world, why I am I screaming and crying because Kaden left his shoes in middle of the living room?" Is it that I have rage issues? Or OCD? Maybe both. But really I like to blame it on my messed up hormones.

Seriously women have it rough when it comes to these ridiculous things that mess with our emotions, skin, weight, cravings, sex drive, boob size, ability to sleep, ability to function... Well you get the point.

My loving husband has had to see so many different, hormone influenced, sides of me.

- birth controlled
- getting off birth control
- on clomid (absolute worse)
- pregnant
- recovering from a miscarriage
- pregnant
- recovering from pregnancy
- still recovering from pregnancy

Yay for all these things that have made me crazy! Right!?

How can I be a living, breathing, functioning person in a society that does NOT want to hear any of my hormone excuses? (Sorry Mr. At Cafe Rio I know I'm crying because you put tomatoes on my salad but I had a baby 10 months ago and I just started my period and I may kill you if you don't make me a new one now!) If only.

So here is how I have managed to control my hormones.

- Dairy free diet (organic dairy if I must have milk/ yogurt/ anything dairy because dairy is packed with hormones)
- Organic cage free eggs w/ omega 3 only (regular eggs are packed with hormones)
- More fish less meat (we seriously eat fish at least 3 times a week)
- More chicken than red meat (we eat organic chicken twice a week)
- Exercise. Run, walk, swim, dance, jog up and down your stairs. Do something!
- Take vitamins ( I take prenatal, iron, vitamin c, fish oil, biotin, and probiotics)
- Use essential oils ( I use Doterra balance daily and diffuse lemon grass)

It sounds like a lot but it really isn't, it also sounds expensive but don't let organic food fool you. Healthy does not always mean hard. And the side effects will have you jumping for joy. At least I hope so. When I stick to this plan I feel more energized, less stressed, less agitated and more loving. The mix of not adding hormones to my body already full of them and supplying my body with endorphins and other happy things like omega 3 and vitamin c helps to regulate the hormones that I tend to hate and make me, well, hormone happy.

We Went to Seattle!

January 20-28

Lived - Have you ever wanted to jump on a plane last minute and get away? Last Sunday Leighton and I packed up all the random clothes and essentials that Sarah and Kaden quickly brought to us and we headed out of town to help and visit Camille, Alex and June.

- I wasn't sure how long i would be there for so i bought a one way ticket and left. Camille had a very busy week ahead of her and was sick and exhausted and i wanted to help in anyway i could. Hopefully i was more of a help than not. I know sometimes it would have been a way better situation if i could have left baby girl at home. She was a trooper though, and luckily she is the best baby EVER and hung out looking cute at the store, and the two events i helped with.

- I took so many pictures that i figure that will basically be my post, Enjoy!

 Leighton's first flight was amazing!

I fell absolutely in LOVE with Camille's store. The Dress Theory

I ate wayyy to much ice cream from Molly Moon's 

Learned-  I had so much fun helping with events. There is just something about the feeling of being in charge that i love, is that bad? I know i was only helping but it was great to be apart of something and to socialize and get to know new people. I felt so confident in myself which if you follow the blog ever you would know that i often don't. I know i am capable of anything just sometimes i get nervous of what other people will think of me. I am so glad to see that i am getting past that.

12 Baskets event

 Weddings in Woodinville

Camille had a very successful Claire Pettibone trunk show, even with her and Calire both not feeling well.

Loved- Leighton and I had so much fun hanging out with Camille, Alex, Susan and June. I know Leighton has been wishing she could play with June some more and see her knew boyfriend Alex. Even though it was gray i loved the weather. Of course i am sure it would be hard to live in it all the time, i would take gray over snow any day. I loved how much we walked there too. That is one thing that Kaden and I have taken into consideration on where we will live next. We tend to love cities that have great transportation systems and that allow you to do a lot of productive walking.

We can't wait to go back and take Kaden.