Children's Book Obsessions

So for those of you who don't know, I have a major obsession with children's books/children's literature. It all started when I was young. I would check out over 40 books at a time from the library (about 95% of them being chapter books) and still finish every one of them before it was time to return them two weeks later. I might have even talked my parents into paying me to do so... Hey! I'm an entrepreneur and I figured I might as well get paid for doing something I loved!

Becoming a teacher only added to my obsession. I wanted every book under the sun to have in my classroom library so my students could learn from them and love them as much as I did.

Now that I have a child of my own, my obsession has only grown stronger. Scott gets a little worried if I make it anywhere near the book section of just about any store. Costco is the worst... I want every book I see! I have 100's of books in storage, but they are all for 2nd to 3rd grades and up. I have been in the need of creating a library of books for infants and toddles. Don't worry... I've got a really great start!

Needless to say. I love books. I have read to Addison every day since she was in her fourth month and apparently Addison has cultivated my love for books as well.

I had two videos that I was going to post that really demonstrates her love for books, but dang blogspot wouldn't let me upload them... Arrrgggh.

The first video is Addison listening to me read her favorite book. She laughs at every page and it is pretty much the cutest thing you have ever seen. The second video shows what happens when I finish reading a book and I set it down. Addison's reaction to my putting the book down is hilarious. Instant tears of sadness. The moment I pop a new book up though, immediate happiness. I am so grateful she is cultivating a love for books and reading.

1st Anniversary

Scott and I have been married a year.

Whoa.

We had a five month long distance engagement that felt like an eternity, but our first year has flown by.

We celebrated our first anniversary with a few unexpected life surprises.

We didn't think we would parents by our first anniversary, but that is what happens when your baby arrives ten weeks early. We didn't think we would celebrate our big day at a hospital, but once again, that is what happens when your baby arrives ten weeks early. We didn't think we would be in Las Vegas over the holiday break, but as stated before, that is what happens when your baby arrives ten weeks early.

Regardless of the unexpected plans that played out on our anniversary, our first anniversary couldn't have been any better. Let me explain why. Our baby came ten weeks early, which means Scott and I were blessed to celebrate our first year together by celebrating the birth of our tiny little girl. There is no where I would have rather been on the 20th of December, than with my wonderful, amazing husband and my sweet, perfect, tiny angel. The fact that our time spent together was in the hospital is a mute point. The point is that we were celebrating together and it was wonderful.

In the evening, while Addison was sleeping, Scott and I made our way across the street from the hospital to a restaurant for dinner. Ironically, the restaurant we crept to is the exact restaurant that Scott took me to on the night he proposed. It was perfect place for us to go.

We just had dinner, nothing fantastic or crazy exciting to celebrate our first year together, but it was spent together and for that reason, it was perfect. To top the night off, my brother-in-law completed our wedding video and sent it to us to enjoy in celebration of our first year. To see the video, click on the link below.

http://vimeo.com/56136898

I am so grateful, happy, and blessed to have found Scott. I am so grateful we are sealed for eternity in the temple. He never ceased to amaze me with his incredible spirit and giving nature. He is one in a million and I can't wait to celebrate many more anniversaries to come.