A One Year Family Update

I feel like a little update is in order. Ellie was 4 months old the last time I posted. 

The reason I haven't blogged is because I have spent too much time on the computer doing things for my Beachbody business. But I am not running that as actively as I once did, so I have more time to make these more private, journal-like posts. 

Here is an update on my family over over the past year that I have skipped out on blogging. A lot has happened in the last year!!! We have been SO blessed. 

1. I became a stay-at-home-mom. I LOVE my new job! Teaching is a lot of fun.... but being a SAHM has been the most amazing job title. I love watching Ellie learn and grow! 

2. Bryce graduated from BYU-Idaho with honors. He earned his bachelor's degree in Computer Science.

3. We took a family trip to San Francisco. It was a blast! And it was the first time we really went on any vacation/trip without friends or family.... or the funding or help or resources from them ;)

4. We moved back to Boise!

 

5. Bryce started full time at HP as a software engineer. He loves it! In fact, basically every morning, he wakes up excited to go to work. 

6. Ellie turned one year old! 

7. We started to build a house, and then we ended up buying one instead! We love our new home! Also... we LOVE our backyard and fire pit, so I will share pics of that, too. 

8. We took fun trips to Sun Valley, Island Park, Rupert, and Oregon. We also have enjoyed BSU football games, trips to the zoo, and time with family. 

9. I started coaching soccer for Meridian United FC and teaching piano to my niece and nephew, Hailey and Tanner.

10. We are expecting our second little one to join our family this December! 

Out of the Blogging Loop!

Man these last 4 months have been crazy (in an awesome way) ever since starting my business as an online fitness coach! Unfortunately, my personal blog here has been severely neglected. I think it is just because I want to spend only a certain amount of time at the computer, and that time almost ALWAYS gets focused into Beachbody. But I am so sad to see how few posts I have made recently! I am going to work on that. Expect a few posts coming soon!

4 Months Old

Ellie is 4 months old! Time has gone by so quickly, but at the same time, I can't believe there was ever a time she wasn't in our lives. We adore her, and most of you can probably tell that by the excessive amount of #ellysetaylor posts I make on Facebook. But, let's be honest, how could I not?

Baby Stats:

Head Circumference: 15.5 in (15%)

Weight: 12.9 lbs (20%) 

Height: 26.8 in. (100%)

Loves:

• smiling
• cooing
• rolling over 
• sleeping on her belly
• watching tv
• her sock monkey
• her orange ball
• standing up while mom and dad help
• "flying" baby style
• swimming
• baths

Hates:

• being tired - she is just like mom and gets REALLY dramatic if she's tired. 

Because Facebook Isn't my go to place for religion and politics

If you scroll through your Facebook news feed right now, you are bound to come across countless posts regarding the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. I never really feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings regarding religion and politics on Facebook because I use Facebook for other purposes, but I feel like I can share on my own blog. So enjoy my short thought on this marriage equality decision. I have put a lot of thought into what I actually believe and feel is right over the last several years, as the debates have made me really question what I know and feel is right.

I personally feel that marriage is a sacred institution designed by Heavenly Father to be between a man and a woman. God intended for marriage to be an ordinance and covenant shared between Him and a man and a woman to further His work and intention for there to be eternal families. That is God's law, and that will never change.

That being said, I also think that people should have the right to make their own choices, and whatever their choices, we as a people should respect it. (Obviously there are choices we can't respect, and when that's the case, people end up in jail or prison, and that's obviously a different story) Agency was one of the first laws given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As a Christian, I feel like we should love people and show them the respect they deserve regardless of their personal choices.

The example the Savior set in the scriptures illustrates this time and again. He loved people - not necessarily for what they did. I feel like it should be the same for us. So, although I personally feel that marriage is sacred and that it should be between a man and a woman, I am also going to love and respect people for their own personal decisions and beliefs.

SO there we have it. My thoughts in a nutshell.

An Update on Team Beachbody Coaching Life

I love staying at home with Ellie. But in the same breath, something inside me wants to feel like I can continue to help contribute to my family financially. Money has always scared me.... I guess I should say that lack of money has always scared me. When I found out about the opportunity to be a Beachbody coach, though, I thought the opportunity would be perfect for me. And so far it has really turned out to be even better than I expected. When I signed up as a coach, I joined a network of people who just want to be healthy and to help others achieve their health goals as well. Before I became a coach, I thought it would be an "on your own" kinda thing. I didn't realize that I would be joining a team of amazing inspiring women who would be there to help me with any health, fitness, personal, or financial goal I might have. It has been amazing! And it has been fun to share my health and fitness journey - and the cherry on top is getting paid on average a solid Benjamin a week to do it! So grateful for this opportunity!

I get to attend optional weekly team calls with some of the women on my coaching team. We help each other out, give ideas on how to be successful, and just have a good time! It is cool, because these are women I would have never gotten to know without Beachbody. Some of them have completely different standards and beliefs than me, but I seriously have SO much fun talking to them, getting to know them, and learning from them. They have helped me be successful with my business, move up in rank, and be successful at my own goals for myself. It's awesome!

An Update on the Whole Stay at Home Mom Thing

Getting to stay at home with Ellie has seriously been such an amazing blessing. I have loved seeing her grow every day and hit new milestones. I love being a stay at home mom! I am so grateful to think that Bryce's job will allow me to continue to stay at home.

 Here is Ellie's newest talent - you can't put her on her back without her deciding to roll over right away! However, I think she might be better at rolling from her back to her belly than her belly to her back... 

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

I once heard that moms are just called "moms" because "multitasking ninja warrior" isn't a real job title. I just need to note this moment because just now I really lived up to the title of multitasking ninja warrior. Ellie woke up extra early this morning to eat. Please note the time below at which this was posted. As she was nursing, I could feel that her diaper was extremely saggy... It felt like half her body weight was sitting in that diaper. I was bummed because if I had to change her diaper after she was fed, it would definitely make her wake up more than I wish was necessary. So right there, as I was nursing, I made a bold decision. I decided to change Ellie's diaper while nursing. Was it stupid? Yes. Was it crazy? Very. Was it multitasking ninja warrior status? Most definitely. So I carefully unzipped the bottom of her swaddle blanket,  unbuttoned the bottom of her pajamas, opened up the ten pound diaper (which was luckily just urine), slipped a new diaper under her bum, pulled the old diaper out, did a quick swipe with a wet wipe, strapped the new diaper on, buttoned her pajamas up, and zipped up the bottom of her swaddle blanket - all while continuing to nurse my baby. In the dark. All with one hand. I finished feeding her, and put her back down in her crib - sound asleep. Today is the day. Today is the day I earned that extra awesome job title. I know moms earn that title countless times throughout momhood, but this was my first unnecessary success story.

Signing out, 

Beki