Something that people don’t really tell you about the transition from crawling to walking: you sweat a lot more.  Not the baby…you as the mom.  Now that Sloan is walking and nearly running it’s getting harder to keep up with her.  I feel like I am constantly sweaty from chasing after her.  I remember the early days – when I was so proud to see her holding her head up by herself during tummy time.  I didn’t think I could possibly be more proud of her…until she started walking.

She’s not a baby anymore – although you would still believe it if you saw her short little self wobbling around.

This week was a busy one.  I have been slammed with work stuff – so during naps and after bedtime I work on all my work projects and deadlines.  During the rest of the day, we cram as much action in as we can.  Unfortunately I haven’t been great at taking pictures or documenting our day-to-day.

We visited the bookstore to gear up for our upcoming family trip [with just the three of us].  I bought a pile of new books for Sloan to enjoy and am storing them away until the flight.  She could have stayed in that bookstore for hours.
I had some returns and errands to run down at Fashion Place Mall – so after Zach got off work earlier this week the three of us drove down to Murray to check some things off my list and do get a bite to eat at Brio.  We were seated towards the back – near the kitchen – and Sloan kept waving to all the staff, including the chef.  The chef then gave her her very own chunk of pizza dough to play with.  It kept her busy throughout our meal.  Compliments to that chef, he must have children of his own…

Sloan has not had it easy this week, either.  Zach’s had her in training.  Practicing her snowboarding balance skills inside on the carpet.  I have had to have several pep talks with Zach – explaining that she might not love snowboarding as much as he does…and that he can’t get disappointed.  Turns out she DOES love it as much as he does, and it’s more and more evident each day.   Along with her walking and other milestones – girlfriend is finally getting some hair.  It’s almost transparent because it is so blonde – but it’s there…and it’s getting LONG. Saturday Zach wanted to test Sloan’s skills out on the real snow.  We bundled her up and Zach took her back and forth on a tiny patch of snow that hadn’t melted in the back yard.  She seriously loved it.  She has incredible balance, like Zach.  She squealed, gave us high-fives, and had a smile the entire time.  We completely wore her out and she loved every second.  When we took her back inside and took off her snow clothes she wasn’t quite ready to be done.  She walked back and grabbed her snow suit and beanie and dragged them back to the door and waited for us to take her back out.

We had our date night Saturday night.  Sushi at Tsunami and CREED the movie [a must-see if you are a Rocky fan].  I love being with Zach on Saturday nights.  Even if it is just for a couple hours of conversation.  

Sunday was madness.  Zach had to speak in sacrament and I had to teach Gospel Doctrine.  Luckily, my parents joined us for those first two meetings.  They helped me corral Sloan and then got to hear me teach while Zach took laps with her.  After Sloan’s nap we drove up to Ogden to have dinner at Mark and Jeanene’s.  It was delicious, as always, and Sloan was in heaven playing with all the toys in Mimi and Papa’s playroom.  

Sometimes I get so caught up in my “to-do list” that I forget to stop and enjoy the tiny little things that make my mom heart sing.  Like watching Sloan carry around a single sock for almost an hour – wiping it on every surface she can reach.  Maybe my OCD is rubbing off on her.  Or watching her in the bath – you’d think it was Christmas morning all over again.  Nothing makes her happier than splashing in the tub.
I’m starting to funnel some of my work projects and pick and chose what I want to work on.  It’s so nice being able to do that and I have promised myself that for the next few weeks I am going to take on less so I can get to bed at a decent time for once at night.  But by far my favorite job, and the most important, is being a mom to this little girl – who is my entire world and more.  I hope I’m teaching her that hard work is something she’ll never be able to be given, she’ll have to earn herself…