I wish I went to bed kicking and screaming each night like my toddler. Okay not literally kicking and screaming, but I wish I clung to each day with the same voracity. Instead I find myself sinking into bed with an udder exhaustion from the day's work. Sadly when a day is over I feel relieved instead of grateful, and more often than not I find myself stuck in between time and never in the moment.
Sometimes I get stuck in the past. I remember the contentment I felt as a child in the home that my parents created. I wish that I could go back for just a moment to curl up into my dad's lap for a story or enjoy a fierce chess competition. I miss the way my mom hugged me when I was sad and her calming reassurance that everything would be okay. I want to relive the moment I fell in love with all its excitement and for just a moment hold my newborn baby one more time. I sit and remember these times with a sense of longing, but forget the sweetness that this current moment offers. I forget about the great appreciation and admiration I feel for my mom and dad that I only discovered after I had a child of my own. I forget the peaceful, calm, immovable feeling of actually being in love that my husband and I built with memories, sweet reassuring kisses, words of kindness, and the birth of a child. I forget the joy I feel when Aspen utters "Mama"
Sometimes I get stuck on tomorrow and I can't wait. I can't wait for Aspen to grow a little older. I can't wait until my husband finally finishes school. I can't wait to get back to work. When I long for the future I forget to be grateful for right now and all my blessings: my wonderful family, a cozy home, food on the table, and the world's most adorable baby. So maybe tonight as I crawl into bed, I will just be thankful for today.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
San Francisco Zoo
All the Brentwood babies met for a day at the San Fransisco zoo. During my last year of teaching me and two other teachers were all pregnant. We try to get together every so often. It is crazy to think that our babies are all ready one.
Beach Trip
Sunday, July 17, 2011
What you have missed
Our T.V. is run by a computer and Aspen discovered the fun of the keyboard. She loved to push the buttons and see what came up on the screen. Of course this we cute at first, but soon became a problem. We had to replace the keyboard with a wireless version. Sad for baby, good for Mommy and Daddy.
Aspen loves her dad. She likes to follow him around the house and she sometimes clings to him and refuses to come to me. She knows him by name and often looks at him and says dada.
Aspen loves to splash in the water. She also likes to dip her hand in the water and then suck on her fingers. Silly baby. Of course there is nothing cuter than a baby in a ducky towel.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Help Baby Aspen Fall Asleep
Click on the play button to begin. If only getting Aspen to sleep was this easy.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Family Keeper
I am the family historian. There is one in every family and I appointed myself probably at birth. I remember as a child climbing to the top shelf of our closet pulling down old pictures of dead ancestors, gazing at them wondering about their stories. At night I would read their journals and listen to them tell their stories. I sat for hours with my grandmother soaking up all her years of wisdom. At night instead of a bedtime story I begged my dad for a story about his past. It is hard for me to pin point this fascination but it seems to stem from a need to connect with the past, present, and future.
I need to understand where I came from. Why was I born to my parents, in America, in the state of Utah, in the city of Bountiful. It is definitely not a coincidence. What were the events leading up to this? Many of my ancestors are Mormon pioneers who left their homes and families to join a new church. What made them risk their lives to travel across the plains of the United States only to settle in a desert? These are questions that I have always had a desire to find the answers to. I think if I understand my past maybe I can understand myself just a little more.
Presently, my family stories are my life's compass. My ancestors have taught me gratitude, faith, and compassion. When I complain about our one bedroom apartment with AC, a washer and dryer, and plenty of closet space. I think about my grandparent's first home with walls that creaked as the wind flowed through them all the way to the wallpaper that they watched sway back and forth for hours of entertainment.
When I wonder about God, I think of my grandfather dying at the young age of 39 leaving behind a family with young children and never denying his faith in God and Christ.
I treasure every moment with my child when I think about my great grandmother pulling the lifeless body of her toddler from the creek.
I am grateful for disposable diapers as I picture my own mother living in Africa with her first child and washing his diapers in the bathtub.
I hope to carry on this great legacy to my own children. I hope that they will enjoy our family history as much as I have. Maybe my posterity will marvel at my own struggles like surviving chicken pox and life without the internet and cell phones , so if your family is without a historian then maybe you should appoint yourself. It will enrich your life and also generations to come.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A Women's Company
As I walked through the door and spotted a foosball table and two arcade games I wondered if maybe I had time warped into a Nicklecade instead of entered into a internet company who's networth just peaked in the billions. I guess games like this make a building look inviting and like a fun place to work at; however, as a woman these toys just wouldn't energize me. It made me wonder what type of amenities would be mandatory in a company run by women.
First the lounge would not be filled with silly games, instead there would probably be a lot of comfy couches where we could sit around and talk. We could talk about our children, the weather, fashion, our husbands, and our feelings. We could complain about problems and talk about all the possible solutions and instead of implementing a plan we could sit on the couches and talk some more.
There would be soothing background music that seemed to not have a beginning or end and flowed like a fountain. It would be uplifting without being indulgent. Most likely Chopin or some other Classical music from the Romantic period.
The candy machines would be filled with a variety of chocolates. From dark chocolate that is so bitter it almost burns your tongue to the sweetest creamiest milk chocolate that melts in your mouth. Of course any chocolate made in America would have to be banned because although we do so many things right chocolate just isn't one of them.
Now these would be some perks I could get used to. If you worked for a Women's company what would you add??
to be continued....
First the lounge would not be filled with silly games, instead there would probably be a lot of comfy couches where we could sit around and talk. We could talk about our children, the weather, fashion, our husbands, and our feelings. We could complain about problems and talk about all the possible solutions and instead of implementing a plan we could sit on the couches and talk some more.
There would be soothing background music that seemed to not have a beginning or end and flowed like a fountain. It would be uplifting without being indulgent. Most likely Chopin or some other Classical music from the Romantic period.
The candy machines would be filled with a variety of chocolates. From dark chocolate that is so bitter it almost burns your tongue to the sweetest creamiest milk chocolate that melts in your mouth. Of course any chocolate made in America would have to be banned because although we do so many things right chocolate just isn't one of them.
Now these would be some perks I could get used to. If you worked for a Women's company what would you add??
to be continued....
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Greatest Safety Features
My mother in law desperately wants me to get a new car. One with the latest safety features; however, what is difficult for her to see beyond the pealing paint, tape deck radio, and sun damaged interior is that my car links me to my past. I feel safe in it. It reminds me of home, my mom, and many other fond memories.
I remember the day my mom first pulled it into the drive way. This was her first car. She didn't have to share it, it was not an ugly station wagon, and it was the newest car she had ever owned. For Christmas everyone pitched in and bought her a custom license plate TCwriter. She proudly drove this car for several years and I was lucky enough to borrow it when I went to college.
While in college it reminded me of the kindness of strangers as I was stranded on the road with a blown out tire. This was before I had a cell phone and I was left at the mercy of people that passed by, luckily a nice elderly couple helped me put on a spare tire, which at the time I didn't even know where it was located. I drove to the nearest fix it shop and I was quickly back on the road.
At Utah State University it drove me to my first teaching job in the bitter Logan weather. Every morning I woke up to a car frozen in ice. I scraped the snow off the window in -10 degrees. While inside it took several minutes for the car to warm up. It was so cold my CD player was even frozen. I would hold it up to the heater until it was warm enough to play music and then celebrated by eating my breakfast bar.
This student teaching job soon turned into a real teaching job in Salt Lake City. I remember the note I found placed under my wiper blades by my boyfriend as I left from work one day. This was the first of many kind acts and our friendship soon became an eternal commitment. This same car decorated with oreo cookies, white paint, and the words "Just Married" drove us home as Mr. and Mrs. Erickson. The car became ours as a Wedding gift.
I watched as my car was chained to the back of a moving van headed to California. My husband was headed off to graduate school and I took a teaching job in a low income area. There it continued to accumulate miles to and from work, the grocery store, and now the beach.
Soon the car held my most precious possession a new baby placed carefully into a car seat in the back. Trips now include visits to the doctor, park day, and the zoo.
So, my reply to my mother in law about a new car, "I am just going to have to drive this car until it dies which I'm sure will be a sad day, then maybe we can talk about something new."
I remember the day my mom first pulled it into the drive way. This was her first car. She didn't have to share it, it was not an ugly station wagon, and it was the newest car she had ever owned. For Christmas everyone pitched in and bought her a custom license plate TCwriter. She proudly drove this car for several years and I was lucky enough to borrow it when I went to college.
While in college it reminded me of the kindness of strangers as I was stranded on the road with a blown out tire. This was before I had a cell phone and I was left at the mercy of people that passed by, luckily a nice elderly couple helped me put on a spare tire, which at the time I didn't even know where it was located. I drove to the nearest fix it shop and I was quickly back on the road.
At Utah State University it drove me to my first teaching job in the bitter Logan weather. Every morning I woke up to a car frozen in ice. I scraped the snow off the window in -10 degrees. While inside it took several minutes for the car to warm up. It was so cold my CD player was even frozen. I would hold it up to the heater until it was warm enough to play music and then celebrated by eating my breakfast bar.
This student teaching job soon turned into a real teaching job in Salt Lake City. I remember the note I found placed under my wiper blades by my boyfriend as I left from work one day. This was the first of many kind acts and our friendship soon became an eternal commitment. This same car decorated with oreo cookies, white paint, and the words "Just Married" drove us home as Mr. and Mrs. Erickson. The car became ours as a Wedding gift.
I watched as my car was chained to the back of a moving van headed to California. My husband was headed off to graduate school and I took a teaching job in a low income area. There it continued to accumulate miles to and from work, the grocery store, and now the beach.
Soon the car held my most precious possession a new baby placed carefully into a car seat in the back. Trips now include visits to the doctor, park day, and the zoo.
So, my reply to my mother in law about a new car, "I am just going to have to drive this car until it dies which I'm sure will be a sad day, then maybe we can talk about something new."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Birthday
Going to the Store
Taking Aspen to the store is one of my favorite parts of the week. She is so happy looking at all the people and riding in the cart. I thought I would snap a picture.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Newborn Video
I finally started my video editing. I love this video and the funny thing is that Aspen loves it to.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Baby Olympics
Another solid victory for team Erickson at the first annual Baby Olympic Event on Sunday March 6. The contenders met at the Flore's Field to celebrate the upcoming birth of baby Dalton by participating in a series of baby themed Olympic games.
During the first game, Measuring the Belly, each player took a piece of ribbon and tried to guess the circumference of Darcy's belly. The event was close with a show down between Diahanna and Debbie; however Debbie's string was spot on and Diahanna's was off by a few centimeters. Victory point one for team Erickson.
The guest then enjoyed three rounds of baby charades.Everyone at the event wrote down three words or phrases about a baby and placed their responses in a jar. The players in the room were divided into two teams. Team two Ericksons, Daltons, Katie, Tia, and Terry, and Team One everyone else.
The first round each player tried to get their team member to guess the word on the card by using other words to describe it. The team had one minute to guess as many words as they could from the jar. The jar was passed from team to team until all the cards were guessed. The team with the most slips of paper at the end won. Round 1: Team two, thanks mainly to the Ericksons.
Round 2: The teams had to guess the words on the same slips of papers by only using two words. Surprisingly, team one took this round, but team two was prepared to take the final round. This was their strength acting out the words. After an intense round. Team 2 was victorious. Victory point two for Ericksons.
The final game was the a relay race including blowing up a balloon and putting it under maternity clothes, sucking water out of a bottle, eating a jar of baby food, changing a baby doll's clothes, and swaddling them in a blanket. The race was close between the two teams. The most challenging part was drinking from the bottle and Flores used the squeeze the bottle and suck technique and Espinoza could not get the latching right and threw in the towel.. It was not even close. Team Erickson/Dalton/Flores won.
There was still speculation that team Erickson cheated, but team captain, Debbie, believes , "It is just because everyone else is a sore loser and can't handle the fact that we are winners and have the skills to back up."
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Cowboy Poetry
On the news yesterday, I was sad to hear that the yearly Cowboy Poetry Festival in Elko, Nevada was going to be canceled due to budget cuts. I was so bummed because I will have to wait another year to submit my poem. I tried to feel my cowboy roots when writing this one. I'm half cowboy on my mom's side. The poem sounds especially good with Garth Brooks in the background.
There’s a thousand years of history and a hundred more at least.
All gathered in the stories about taming this wild beast.
And back behind its silly grin and spit that’s oozing out.
Is the ghost of every parent that is trying not to shout.
Every wrap in its small blanket’s been swaddled a million times.
And the mystery of this creature still puzzles ancient minds.
It’s evolution hasn’t changed the way this critter cries.
I’ve lassoed in its spirit now prepare for the reprise
Oh, the milk vein is a bulgin’ every time I hear it yelp
It’s mighty quiet, in this here home there’s no one here to help.
Mommy is the only one who makes the daily grub.
It cries and cries both day and night It’s hard to feel the love.
Star light in the dark of night like a shiny horse’s spur.
Is when this animal’s bedside corral soon begins to stir.
I feel so tuckered out from the endless day of work
But this is the time when the possum’s awake to take its nightly slurp
Jiggle, Jiggle, pat, and burp, jiggle, pat, then burb
Tickle, Tickle, kiss, and squeeze, slobber, poopy, slurp.
But just when I thought I’ve had enough and I’m ready to give in
This puppy cuddles up to me and gives me quite a grin
There’s a thousand years of history and a hundred more at least.
All gathered in the stories about taming this wild beast.
And back behind its silly grin and spit that’s oozing out.
Is the ghost of every parent that is trying not to shout.
Every wrap in its small blanket’s been swaddled a million times.
And the mystery of this creature still puzzles ancient minds.
It’s evolution hasn’t changed the way this critter cries.
I’ve lassoed in its spirit now prepare for the reprise
Oh, the milk vein is a bulgin’ every time I hear it yelp
It’s mighty quiet, in this here home there’s no one here to help.
Mommy is the only one who makes the daily grub.
It cries and cries both day and night It’s hard to feel the love.
Star light in the dark of night like a shiny horse’s spur.
Is when this animal’s bedside corral soon begins to stir.
I feel so tuckered out from the endless day of work
But this is the time when the possum’s awake to take its nightly slurp
Jiggle, Jiggle, pat, and burp, jiggle, pat, then burb
Tickle, Tickle, kiss, and squeeze, slobber, poopy, slurp.
But just when I thought I’ve had enough and I’m ready to give in
This puppy cuddles up to me and gives me quite a grin
I found this old picture of my Grandpa. I thought it was fitting for this poem.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Mom
I keep thinking about writing this blog. I think about my mom all the time.Now that I am a mother. I am so grateful for everything she did for me. Note: In this picture I'm the baby.
I miss my mom everyday,
and not because she's far away
I miss the stories we shared each night
The soft glow of my small night light
I miss the homemade bread
smothered end to end with butter
and opening my sack lunch each day
a sandwich with creamy peanut butter.
I miss building snowmen in the yard.
Sledding down the hill together,
Sipping hot chocolate slowly
after playing in cold weather.
Dancing in the costumes
She sewed on her machine
speghetti, stir fry, chicken
and her famous taco beans.
I miss the music that we played
on our piano side by side
the way our fingers touched
the keys and sometimes would collide
I watch my daughter sleeping
and pray that I will be
half of the mother to her
that my mother was to me.
to be continued.. . .
I miss my mom everyday,
and not because she's far away
I miss the stories we shared each night
The soft glow of my small night light
I miss the homemade bread
smothered end to end with butter
and opening my sack lunch each day
a sandwich with creamy peanut butter.
I miss building snowmen in the yard.
Sledding down the hill together,
Sipping hot chocolate slowly
after playing in cold weather.
Dancing in the costumes
She sewed on her machine
speghetti, stir fry, chicken
and her famous taco beans.
I miss the music that we played
on our piano side by side
the way our fingers touched
the keys and sometimes would collide
I watch my daughter sleeping
and pray that I will be
half of the mother to her
that my mother was to me.
to be continued.. . .
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Valentine's Day
To the Love of My Life,
Thank your for letting me fall asleep on our date and still liking me.
love,
Debbie
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fast Food Calorie Board
I ordered a meal under 500 calories and skipped the soda after gazing upon the new calorie board at KFC. California recently ordered restaurants to post their "dirty little secret" in plain sight. I am actually happy with the new information and think it will help me make better decisions. I wonder; however, if fast food will be regulated like alcohol. If so consider a few laws that may be passed
Where to Buy Fast Food
Private restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores sell high calorie food. Fatty food is not sold between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.I guess no more fourth meal at the 24 hour taco bell.
Legal Age for Eating Fast Food
You must be 21 to eat fast food. You must be 18 or older to work at any restaurant that serves fast food.
F.F.C.C.
The Fast Food Calorie Count must not exceed 2000 calories. Anything above 2000 calories will give you a lethargic feeling.that may inhibit good judgement
Penalties
Offenders will be required to attend gym class, consult a nutritionist, and their license may be confiscated to prohibit them from getting any fatter.
Maybe fast food should be treated like a drug after all obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation.
Miss America Pageant
To the Miss America Committee Members:
Last nights airing of the Miss America Pageant was delightful. I'm truly grateful there is a scholarship program based on beauty after all everyone knows this is a woman's greatest asset. As the host mentioned," This pageant is teaching the girls life skills. " including how to keep a straight face after being eliminated from the swimsuit competition due to thunder thighs, answering political questions without actually answering anything, and showing grace while wearing a sequin gown from the 1980's. I was brought to tears when Miss Arizona dedicated her performance to that poor congress woman. I thought the pageant was a great place to address such a tragedy and I'm glad she could use it to her advantage. The event was also filled with humor. I laughed at Miss Utah's introduction "Tonight all 52 contestants share a dream not a husband. " I'm glad she brought light to this controversial topic instead of talking about the awesome snow, Olympics, or the beautiful National Parks in Southern Utah. I also chuckled at the silly comments the girls made throughout the night like..." my favorite shoes are my pink cowboy boots and I just like to let my hair down." Thank you again for putting on a fabulous show. I can't wait for next year maybe the winner will be Miss California this time.
Sincerely,
Debbie Erickson
Anytown, CA
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Cheating Allegations During Rice Cereal Event
the three contenders, Layla Casumbal, Natalie Polk, and Aspen Erickson, met at Carla's house for the
event. All the babies were eager to try the cereal for the first time. The contestants donned their bibs and sat in their mom's lap while the cereal was heated, prepared, and placed in small plastic bowls by the officiator Brad Polk.On the count of three all babies began eating the cereal with assistance from their mommy coaches who placed the spoons carefully in their mouths. Aspen ate like a hungry caterpillar hardly spitting any of the cereal out and crying because her mom was not going fast enough.She finished the whole bowl in a matter of minutes. Layla used the try and cry technique. She would try a little bit and then cry. She tuckered out after about five bites. Finally, Natalie tried, cried, and ultimately gave up by clenching her mouth shut. After the competition was over new evidence surfaced indicating that Aspen practiced with a spoon and water prior to the event. The investigator John Dalton believed this put her at an unfair advantage, "she should be disqualified" he spoke out at the press hearing after the contest. It is still unclear if Aspen actually tried rice cereal before the New Year's event. Her mommy coach insist that the package was never opened; however there is also speculation that Aspen was starving before the contest which made it easier for her to down the entire bowl. Aspen's first place ribbon is currently being held until this matter is sorted out.
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