Hold a baby.

I have always loved holding babies. There is something magical about it.

But the feeling of holding my own tiny daughter can't be beat!

Project Happiness: Exercise.

{This is the guy who Pilates is named after!}

Yesterday, I went to my weekly Pilates class at the gym — I'm working on getting some post-pregnancy abdominal muscles back! Becoming a Pilates teacher was recently added to my to-do someday list.

Tomorrow, I'll be going to my favorite Saturday spin class. I swear it was way easier when I was nine months pregnant. It kicks my butt more than ever now — probably because of the tiredness factor. Oh well. No pain, no gain!

Crikey.

Yesterday was Australia Day. 
And since I'm "half Australian" (as Clay says), we celebrated. The celebration involved:

 

{Dressing in green and "gold"}

{A noble attempt at cutting a pizza into the shape of Australia}

{Watching the movie "Australia"}

{Making my favorite Australian treat — Coconut Ice}

And talking in Australian accents (Clay is surprisingly awesome at it.)

You rock my world, Australia. Happy Birthday.

If you haven't heard about Project Happiness, click here!

Curl up with a good book.

That's what I did today for Project Happiness. 

Anyone read "The History of Love" by Nicole Krauss?

I've heard it's awesome — and I thought it would be a perfect read with Valentine's Day coming up.

I'm looking for more books to add to my "to read" list. Please tell me your favorites!

Hallelujah!

Guess who decided to sleep for six hours straight last night?

After two months of only getting only one and a half to three hours of sleep at a time, I couldn't be happier. No, really. I am ecstatic.

You parents out there know of this euphoric feeling, yes?

To celebrate, we are going to do something fun tonight as a family, as part of my Project Happiness. I'll post about it tomorrow.

Click here to see my cute friend's blog and learn what Project Happiness is all about.

you won't regret it —  promise!

{P.S. Don't you love this bed hair?}

What's that?

You say you want me to inundate my blog with more pictures of Ellie belly?

I guess I can arrange that ...

{Bath time}

{Ellie with her cousin Kate and rival in thigh rolls}

{El & dad - check out her little pose!}

{She looks like a little homie in her Puma suit!}

{Mom & El}

{The midwife who delivered Ellie, Abby, is expecting her first girl next month. She's going to name her Ellie too! But hers is short for Elouise. This lady is amazing.}

Sister, Sister!

Words commonly used to describe this sister include favorite, peacemaker and perfect. This girl is amazing. I mean, she flew out to my wedding when she was nine months pregnant, went home to graduate with her MBA from the prestigious Thunderbird University, (she was on scholarship, mind you) and had her first baby a couple days later. Here she is, ladies and gents ...

{Jenifer Michelle Child}

Quick intro of hubby and kids: Mike the rock star, linguist, closet chick flick lover, man of my dreams. Tanner the train loving, protein shake drinking, Chicagoan accent speaking, puzzle genius (and best big brother in the world!). Kate the queen of fat rolls, lover of spoons, and Tanner's biggest fan!

Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice. May sound cliche, but it's really a masterpiece!

Least favorite color: Puke green. maybe because of the word puke.

Favorite food: Scrambled eggs with melted cottage cheese and Pico De Gallo.

My passions: empowering people specifically through: 1) microfinance/international development 2) dancing 3) teaching my kids to read

Quirk(s): I have an insane, slightly ocd bedtime routine including two stops to the bathroom

pet peeve: white lies, smiling on the outside when you're really cringing on the inside

If I were an animal, I'd choose to be a: Flying squirrel

People have told me I look like: My husband (no really. one of my friends in Brazil asked if she could date him because she thought he was my brother.), Kimmie (I wish!), and Brittney Spears (I just ran into someone who was in the MTC with me and still remembered me as "Sister Spears". I know- sick.)

Favorite vacation memory: Holding Mikey's head as he slept on a bus while we were dating and were trapped on a bus in Brazil for hhhourrrs

Historical person I'd love to meet: Amelia earheart?

Ambitions for the next few years: Start a foundation involving "JJSDF sSDLK's" {Jen - is this a typo due to one of your kiddies? maybe you can clarify in a comment :) } strategy for ending poverty, getting to know my camera on a deeper level, reading like six million books :), having more babies, learning to play the piano along with Tanner

One thing I regret: Not asking for help when i had my first baby so i could take a nap- i'm still recovering :)

Favorite quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Ghandi

Favorite thing in my closet: Ugg boots. Yummy.

Coolest achievement in the last 5 years: Teaching Tanner his abc's. really. it's not that easy to get a two year old to sit still :), getting my MBA, snatching Mike off the market

Hardest thing I've ever done: getting Tanner to sleep through the night (it only took three years :))

Beautiful Brides

I love writing. Especially fun writing. So naturally, I was ecstatic when my friend Bri, managing editor, asked me to help with this year's issue of Utah Valley Bride Magazine. It is such a fun and good-looking publication.

Check it out here. {My articles start on pg. 132 & 145 in case you're wondering :) }

Did I mention I love writing?

{me on my last day of high school - Nov 2001}

Australia

I'm going to take you on a little journey through my time in Australia.

I moved there when I was 15 with my mom, step-dad and two little sisters.

We started school at John Paul College, an ecumenical (accepting all religions) private school, only two weeks later.

We had some intense uniforms, and the school rules were pretty strict.

Girls got in trouble every day for not having their knee socks pulled up all the way, for missing the pins on their ties, for letting stray hairs fall around their faces, for not wearing a maroon bow over their hairbands, or for wearing make-up or jewelry.

We had to stand and greet faculty and staff with a "Hello, sir/ma'am" and a nod whenever we saw them. We said The Lord's Prayer and sang baptist-like hymns at our weekly assemblies. When students accepted awards at said assemblies, they had to do a cursty/bow for the principal before accepting the award. It was a regular Hogwart's, but without the fun of wizardry.

Sounds crazy, I know. But it was such a cool, unique experience and I came to love that school and the friends I made there.

{below: my senior prefect class - kind of like America's home rooms. This photo refused to rotate so you can click on it to see it better.}{below: JPC buddies} {below: I was such a rebel. First, I taught the Australians the meaning of the word "sluff." Really! Then I switched uniforms with my best guy friend Josh one day in the locker rooms - oh what they would have done if they found out!}

One day out of every term, we had Free Dress Day. We got to wear whatever we wanted. And we could wear our hair down! People got so worked-up over it because we so rarely saw each other in normal clothes.

More about Australia next week :)

{below: Free Dress Day - Sophomore Year}

{Jess and I as little tykes - 4 and 2 years old}

{Jess and I last week at our sister Rachie's wedding}

Sister, Sister

I have some pretty cool sisters. Nine, in fact. I think you should meet them. So, I will spotlight one of them every Friday for the next ... well, nine weeks.

First — my "baby" sister Jessica. She's turning 23 this month. I would describe her as determined, unique, crazy-fun and gorgeous (as you can see).

When we were little girls, we fought like cats and dogs. I remember scratching her with my nails (I think I made her bleed), and I also remember her punching me in the nose so hard I thought it was broken. Brutal, I know. But once we were plucked out of our Utah comfort zone and planted in Brisbane, Australia to spend our high school years, we banded together and became best friends. Love you, Jess! And sorry about the scratching.

{Jessica Elizabeth Morris}

Favorite movie: Slumdog Millionaire
Favorite color: Blue
Least favorite color: Orange

Favorite food: Cheese

My passions: Family, cooking, riding bikes {check out her cooking blog here}
Embarrassing moment: Slipping down the muddy hill in front of half the student body on my third day of school in Australia
Pet peeve: Food left out of the refrigerator or a towel being used for the wrong purpose
If I were an animal, I'd choose to be a: Dog.

People have told me I look like: The girl from "Blue Crush" and Elizabeth Smart
Favorite vacation memory: Going for a run on the beach in Australia with Arthur to get a big cream bun
Historical person I'd love to meet: Anna Julia Cooper
Ambitions for the next few years: Save up enough money to go to culinary school
One thing I regret: Waiting so long to figure out who I really am
Favorite quote: "Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Whatever is meant to happen will happen, and often there is something better coming your way."
Favorite thing in my closet: Either my Australian anorak or my Levi straight jeans
Coolest achievment in the last 5 years: Winning a cyclocross race

above: {Jess and I in Hawaii - 2001}

below: {My wedding, 2006}

above: {Jess' Wedding - 2006}above: {in front of our house in Australia - 2008}

Stay tuned for the next episode of "Sister, Sister!" (Jeni — you're next!)

Have you read this article? Do.

It helped me have a fresh, optimistic view of the future.

A perfect way to start out the new year.