ANSWERS

I've needed a lot of these lately. And not just any answers...but answers from God.
Answers to some of my heart's deepest questions, desires and even achings. But the problem has been that unlike any other time in my life, I am in a physical place that makes it very hard to get those answers to come and then to stick. I don't think I have ever been so exhausted, hormonal, feeling out of control...the list goes on...all things that make being "out of tune" very easy.

This last week though, I was really needing some answers. And I got them...in a way I didn't expect. It was one of those times that I was having a hard time even having the energy to kneel and ask the questions. And to stay awake long enough to get an answer. And then even to have the energy to want to follow through. But I knew that if I did one thing, something good would happen. Not sure what, but I knew.
Because we have been promised.
JUST OBEY.

I learned a lot about obedience on that Sunday morning when it took everything I had to be obedient and go to ALL my Church meetings and classes and not give into my tired, new mommy blues. And this is the answer I got...

"Supposing today were your last day on earth, the last mile of the journey you've trod;
After all of your struggles, how much are you worth, HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE HOME TO GOD?
Don't count as possessions your silver or gold, tomorrow you leave those behind,
And all that is yours to have and to hold, IS THE SERVICE YOU'VE GIVEN MANKIND." (Anonymous as quoted by President David O. McKay)

Thanks, Sister Bays for your lesson on Service.

And then the second answer came when I got out of myself and was willing to be social for a few hours and just happened to run into a VERY good friend who later sent me an email and shared this:

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

BE CONTENT.

So now we try to make these answers stick.
Here we go!

Every Ounce Counts!

Whoever would have thought that we would be cheering on every ounce during our babies first 2 months?! I sure didn't. But it has been a journey to remember and we are finally celebrating today 8 pds! YAY! (i'll come up with a fun and interesting way to share all the highlights of our breastfeeding adventures someday...someday.)

But in the meantime, here's a little gallery of "Every little ounce" from the last 7 weeks.

Yes, she is TOTALLY a BYU fan. She told me so. Sorry Daddy. ;)

How about those attentive eyes!

And give it another week and I bet we'll have a picture of a baby with some CHEEKS!

Thanks to everyone who has supported us and our little one these last two months.

Woolston Summer Marathons

This past winter Ryan and I decided that this was the summer for marathons. Don't let me fool you though...neither of these marathons involved running shoes. But they did involve a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Take a look...

CHRISLYN'S MARATHON: The Natural Childbirth of Emma Jean
July 28, 2010
9 hours and 17 minutes

Dr. Hannele Laine, Emma Jean, THE COACH: Ryan, THE ATHLETE: Chrislyn

Years ago I learned about natural childbirth and ever since I knew it was something I wanted to try. Something I wanted to see if I could do for myself and my baby. I didn't really know what I was getting into, but now that it's over I have to say that natural childbirth is one of the most amazing and synergizing things I have ever experienced.

Ryan and I "trained" all summer long with the Bradley Method and our instructor Alyssa Cole learning the "husband coached childbirth" methods and amazing techniques of relaxation. I followed an incredible nutrition guideline based on 80-100 grams protein/day, and Ryan helped keep me training with daily squats, relaxation and other exercises to prepare us. I will admit that there were times that I wondered if this was really preparing us and or if we were going to get to the labor and forget it all and fail.

I am here to say though, that every bit of it made a difference and it worked!

My labor was right out of a text book, and I feel very fortunate to have had such a great first experience. I found myself being able to relax during the contractions and embrace the progress, rather than fear the pain. I have never had to use so much mental strength on something so physcially demanding. What an experience.

I never could have done it without my coach...Mr. W. What a champ he was. He took charge of the room and talked with all the nurses for me. He applied pressure on my back. He talked me thru contractions and gave me confirmation whenever I was slipping into doubt or fear. I was confident that he believed in me, which gave me the strength to believe in myself.

After the last push, the baby was lifted up and into my arms and i'll never forget looking over at Ryan and seeing him burst into tears. Sobbing, he and I looked at each other and said, "we did it!" It was the greatest sensation of achievemnt I have ever experienced.

And then I held the prize. All 6 pounds and 10 ounces of her.



And then the Coach held her. She LOVES her daddy.

And now almost 8 weeks later, it's just a dream. It's hard to imagine that we really created this amazing daughter of God and brought her into the world in such an unforgettable way. But we did. And I have to say, we are one pretty good team. WE ARE WOOLSTON.

RYAN'S MARATHON: LOTOJA Bike Race (Logan to Jackson Hole)

Sept. 11, 2010

206 miles of road
10 hours and 47 minutes

(Starting line. 6:45am. 40 degrees.)

The training started as soon as the snow melted enough to get on his road bike longer than 30 minutes without freezing. The team formed, the rides started getting longer and the races began. And they prepared mile after mile for the big one. Also known as "LOTOJA". And if you're a real cyclist, you pronounce it "LO-TA-JU".

Ryan loves cycling. We sometimes have to remind him that he won't be taking the bike to heaven with him. It's his outlet and recovery on a daily basis. It's his passion. It's what keeps him going. And we as a family LOVE to watch him succeed in it and have fun with it.

This was Ryan's second year to compete in LOTOJA and we have decided that if they gave out an award for most improved, he would have been at the top spot on the podium. Last year he went into it without even a fraction of the training from this year, and without a team as solid as Revolution Rio, and his time was over 12 hours.

This year he trained his heart out, had an incredible team, knew the course and finished in 10:47. Pretty amazing. Way to go, Tully!

(Sorry we don't have more pictures...unfortunately the new little one didn't think it would be a good idea to make this trek this year so we didn't get pictures of the finish line.)

And that's the review of our 2010 Marathons!

WITHDRAWALS

Yes, I know. You've all had withdrawals from me and my blog. Sorry about that.

But this weekend I went through withdrawals.

The busy week at the office pre-event...a flight to a fun new city...a hotel bed all to myself...new, delicious, local restaurants...amazing women gathered for 2 days...being able to make an event a success and see the results of all the hard work...let me just show you a few of these things:


(Pics Top to Bottom: Dinner with TOFW team in Pittsburgh, Memphis event, Quick stop at Memphis temple after event with Laurel)

It wasn't until this weekend that I realized how much I missed it when I found myself looking at the clock every couple hours of thinking of what my co-workers were doing at that very minute in their event city...without me. It was almost like I was breaking myself of an addiction or something. And it kind of surprised me.
I mean, I DO have a new "job" filling my time, right? Why am I missing the old life so much?
Well, this new job...let me just share with you. It is 24 hrs a day/7 days a week. I stay busy all day, but often can't see a single thing I accomplished. The shower is the only time I get to be "alone". I'm lucky if I interact with an adult other than my hubby during the day. And if I do, it's usually another cute stay-at-home mom who i've decided really won't judge me if i'm in the same comfy clothes as the day before and my hair clearly hasn't been styled for days (and if they do judge...I don't really care). I make lists just to see if my brain can really think of all the things that should happen in a normal life again...just to put it under a pile of paperwork and not see it until the next week when I think of making another one. I sleep with one ear open at all times. Never turn all the lights off in the house at night since we'll be using them a few hours later, and can't remember the last time I completely got ready for the day.
It's just a little different than my previous job. Just a little.

Then I thought of a dear friend. Who just happens to be my favorite co-worker to travel with and also happens to be my boss. And I remembered her FB status this week from the beginning of the week, "8 hours later and i'm back at the office already?". And a blog post that voiced the desire this past week to have that honey at home to help with things us busy working girls need help with...like picking up the dry cleaning and registering our cars (LC: I hate to break it to you...but I STILL do this...wink, wink.)

And I remembered that I used to have those updates and journal entries. And I dreamt of a time I didn't have to go through that. And I dreamt of a time I could stay home and cuddle with my little one and have time to make dinner for my husband.

So why the withdrawals?

Well I let myself feel it this weekend. I cried and I cried. I let myself miss it. And then I took Emma out on a Saturday night date to feel a little bit of what my co-workers were getting to experience. But surprisingly, we only did it for about an hour, because then we missed being home.
We missed just cuddling.
We missed nursing.
We missed not being pressured into anything other than what baby and mommy needed.
We missed daddy.
And we realized we love this new life. We really do.

And we also realized that it is okay to love and miss the old life...as long as it wasn't keeping me from enjoying my TODAY. Just like my dear friend has clearly learned how to embrace TODAY even though she HOPES for the future.

So i'm keeping my deal with this friend from an earlier text exchange this week...if she will enjoy every minute of those amazing women in those cities and the fun adventures of traveling and working long hours...i'll enjoy every minute of the smell of a new baby and having her smile when she hears me come into the room.

Yep...THIS is what I get to look at 24/7 at my new "job". I know...I know...amazing.

ps. Please don't laugh when you scroll down and notice that my last post was EXACTLY one year ago...and I was committing to be a "blogger". I'm not promising anything this time...

What's IN my cup?

Well, i'm back. Not that many people (maybe none, actually) ever were following this since I think I did 2 posts last year...but i'm back. I'm back by way of a little personal revelation and a little bit of just wanting to get into this fun blog world.

So today marks the first of hopefully many, weekly updates on "what's in my cup."

I have been thinking about how I look at my cup and realizing that when life gets busy, and the stress increases (which let's be honest, when is this NOT my life), I tend to forget to notice what's in my cup...and just see what ISN'T in it. So I am using the good ol' method of saying it outloud (or to others via technology) to make sure it really sticks.

Today's isn't a list of things, but rather THE one thing that fills my cup more than anything else,the one & only Ryan (or ry-ry, or superhero, or my tandem boy).

And WHY? you ask, is he the first to be highlighted on here? Well let me show you just a little bit of what he has done for this chica's life in the last 7 months (yes! it's been over 7 months)

He's not too macho for this...

(This was our first "Tandem" ride (Newport Beach.) Our goal is to one day do a real tandem race!)

He motivates me to get out and work it!

He is officially now my super hero spandex boy!

LOTOJA 2009!

First Triathlon Relay (Echo Lake)

He keeps me in line and focused on what matters.

Oh yeah, and I can't forget...he cleaned the ENTIRE house this weekend since I was working (yes, that includes laundry, vacuuming AND cleaning the kitchen with bleach!). I know...who IS this guy?!

Most of all, he loves me for me.

I'm not sure I even do that all of the time. But he does. He makes me a better me. He completes little miss chrislyn jean.

This week, my cup is full because I have Ryan.

Love you babes!

NY: Day 1-2 (Going home to Long Island)

So we did it. The long awaited and planned for summer vacation with my girlfriends to New York City FINALLY happened. And it ended up being one of the best vacations I have ever taken and one of the best trips back to NY I have experienced.

Since I know you all just want to see the pictures, I will keep the words few, and let them tell their own story.

Enjoy the trip!

DAY 1- Beaches on Long Island with the girls, Terri (nanny friend), her kiddos and Ryan Hamilton (friend from SLC, now living in NYC)

I LOVE Terri. 8 years ago we were 19-year-old nanny's from Idaho trying to figure out life in NY. I'll never forget the long Sundays together (our only time away from our nanny families), our fun adventures in the city, the many boys that chased her, and our first time serving in the RS presidency. She is one of my REAL BFF's. (And she even named her little girl Chrislyn...awe!).

Erika (Betty), Rachel (Twiggy), Me (Polly)

Also known as "SSS"

Yes, definitely two of the coolest litle dudes I know!

DAY 2: Long Island with the Katzmann's (family I nannied for in '99-'01)

It was SO great to see my boys who are getting SO big! They have grown up to be the most respectful, smart and handsome boys! I wish I could say I had some influence in that, but I think all they really remember about me is the fun music I played in the car, and how I loved to play baseball with them. They are definitely like nephews to me, and I have felt SO blessed that the family has wanted to stay in close touch with me and let's me continue to feel like family. (They even still call the room I stayed in "Chrislyn's room"...awe.)

Kevin (14), Nanny Chrislyn, Scotty (12), Christopher (16)

The amazing mother, Kathleen, who is the reason those boys are so great!

The Kathleen Maria

Don't you think this would be a great calendar pic? ;)

Captain Scott & the ladies!

Just an average house on Long Island...

Next: Into the city we go!

For the Little People in My Life

So I will admit, starting a blog has been a goal of mine since, well, yep, last November. But for some reason there was never a big enough drive for me to actually do it. It had become just "something to do for myself" and so, consequently, got put on the back burner. But as with most things that I actually end up doing in life, I finally realized this week that this blog isn't "just for me." As I was trying to explain to a good friend the other day my struggle with starting a blog, I shared my "real reason" for wanting to start a blog, and to my surprise, it was really good. And so here I am today, with a drive to finally publish my blog...for the little people in my life: Daryl, Elijah, Kailee, Brandon, Jasmin, Dylan, Levi, Charisma, David & Tommy....the ones who call me "their favorite aunt."
So here it goes. This blog is my attempt at documenting the fun, the adventurous, the educational, and maybe even a few of the hard or sad things that make life 3-dimensional for me and that make it all worth it. Here's to sharing my JOY with the ones I love. And if you're not one of those "little people" in my life, I hope you'll still find a reason, or two, to come back and visit every once in a while. Maybe one day i'll write something for you, too!