Good News!!

So there I was, feeding Lucy when the phone rings. It's a 708 area code, and I consider not answering. Then I think, what the heck? I'm not really doing anything anyway.
"This is Miriah." (That's how I answer the phone when I don't know who it is)
"Hello, this is Fran Pardi with the Fieldbrook agency. I'd like to talk to you about your manuscript."
At this point my heart has lept into my throat, cutting off any response.
Pause. "You sent me the first three chapters a while ago..." (As if I don't remember!)
"Yes," I finally squawk.
Fran Pardi, a renouned book agent, called my cell phone! We chatted briefly about a few improvments I could make to my manuscript. She asked me to revise, and send her the entire 300 plus pages!
I am so excited! It is SO, SO hard to get representation for a fiction novel for first-time authors. After not hearing back from her for a couple months, I assumed the worst. But now, here comes chance, knocking at my door! I am going to spend the next few weeks, revising, rethinking, and rewriting until it's as perfect as I can make it. I am going to rake through every sentence with a fine-toothed comb. Even if I don't get published right now, it is such an honor to have been contacted and have my entire manuscript requested, and I feel proud of myself for getting this far. It took a lot of courage to write it, and even more courage to submit it to literary agencies.
I am so thankful for everyone who encouraged me. Nothing is final, and she could read the manuscript and decide against it anyway. But, as I said, for her to call me and discuss revisions, as well as ask for more...it's further than I've ever gotten before. And for my first attempt at my first novel...it gives me hope :0)

My big goal

So, I've heard that if you tell people you have a goal, you are more likely to reach it. My goal is to lose 2 pounds this week. This probably sounds laughable to some of you lucky ducks out there who can lose two pounds without even thinking about it. I am not one of those people. Since January I've lost about 35 pounds, and since having Lucy I've lost 60. I am 20 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with Lucy, so I've been making some serious ground. However, my goal weight is still two tiny pounds away. It seems so close, and yet so far!
SO, I talked with my good friend Melissa, who happens to be a personal trainer in training, and she gave me a few ideas to "trick" my metabolism. Today I made myself choke down egg whites. I absolutely HATE eggs in all their varieties, so that shows you how serious I am about doing this. I am hoping that I can make it. I'll let you all know at the end of the week how I did. Wish me luck!!

Lucy's Birthday!

Lucy's birthday party went really well! We had a fairly large turnout of supportive family and friends that came to celebrate with us. Thank you all again! I don't know if Lucy really understood why she was getting so much attention and so many new toys, but she sure enjoyed it! I can't believe she is already one. She has changed everything in my life. She has made me grow as a person and a woman, and taught me what pure love is. She has brought so much happiness, and helped me learn to put others before myself. She is everything good I want to be! I love you Lucy! Lucy in the tub
opening gifts





I was trying to get her to look at the camera; tom took a picture of us taking a picture

The lovely Melissa Elder

The areobics ladies! They are all incredible.

Lucy's cake after she got a hold of it :)

cake on the face. Classic.

Singing to Lucy

Daddy being silly

Grandpa and Aunt Net

Kendall came all the way from Logan to celebrate with us, and Anj came all the way from Vernal!

Areobics ladies again. I really like them!

Lucy playing in her new ball pit!

New Furniture!

Tom and I are in the process of buying our first house! It takes about a month for all the inspections, paperwork, and financing to completely hash out, so we'll be in our apartment for a little while longer. But at this point it's a fairly sure thing. With labor day sales going on, we decided this weekend would be a good time to start looking at some things for the house. Namely, furniture (the stuff we had was really old and mismatched) and appliances. We found a KILLER deal on some microfiber furniture that I just had to have! So, we got it :0) It's the nicest furniture we've owned together as a married couple! I never knew I would get so excited about a sofa set, but I am. I also found this really adorable mirror that I fell in love with.

It's hard to see, but the frame is made of braided/curly bamboo in different colors
Chair and a half

Sofa

The set

We were trying to take a family picture, but we could not get Lucy to look at the camera even once! We sure tried, though...

Random picture of Lucy and Mom

The World I Want For Lucy

A friend told me the other day that the qualities that we as women admire in other people, are generally qualities we ourselves have. It's just easier to see them in other people. That got me thinking about the kind of life I want Lucy to have, and the way I want her to view herself. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was some way that I could help her see all the wonderful, beautiful, strong, admirable things about herself for her entire life?
So to all you women out there, GIVE YOURSELVES A BREAK. How can we teach out daughters to love themselves if all they see is us being critical of ourselves? You are all beautiful and have something to offer this world that only you can do, in a style that only you have. Don't be afraid to speak up when you admire another woman. Let her know! Remind her of the good things about herself, just in case she's forgotten. Let's create the kind of world we want our daugthers to live in. She'll face enough criticism in her life; let's teach her how to love herself.

Okay, enough with the preaching. So, we went to dinner with Tom's parents this week, and when the waiter found out Lucy's birthday is next Wed. they brought ice cream with a candle and sang to her. It was really cute!

Cuddles with Daddy.

Lucy LOVES the water. On hot days I take her to Liberty Park where she can play in the man-made streams.

Sweet baby Lucy. Always so happy!

Struggling

I know I've complained about this before, so I hope you readers out there don't get the wrong idea about what I'm saying. I love my daughter, my husband, my life. I'm grateful for the option to stay home.
That said, these past two weeks have been difficult for me. I've been feeling cut off from a lot of the adult world, and understimulated. I guess I can sometimes feel trapped by motherhood. I've been looking for very part-time jobs that would get me back in the workplace, just a few hours a day. None of them seem to be working out, which is probably God's way of telling me it's not time for me to leave home yet. While I've been praying for His guidance in making this choice, it's sometimes hard to take when He says no.
I know I'm doing what's right...I just didn't know how much I would miss work! Do any other mothers struggle with this?

Update

So not a whole lot has been going on with the Griffith's lately. Although, Tom was in an accident that totaled our LandRover. We were sad to see it go, but Tom wasn't hurt, and the insurance company paid us a fair value for it, so we were able to find a comprable vehichle. It's a truck instead of an SUV, which I'm not thrilled about. But Tom swears we need the power, so what are ya gunna do? It's a 2005 Dodge Dakota. I'll post pics when we pick it up next week. Until then, Tom is using a rental to commute to and from work. I still have my trusty and reliable Saturn that I got my junior year of high school. (Thanks Mom and Dad, it was a good buy :0))
I sent out my first batch of query letters to literary agents to get representation for my book. I haven't heard much back yet, but the publishing businesses is tough. I'm going to have to face a lot of no's before I find my yes.
Lucy took her first steps a few weeks ago. She isn't walking consistantly yet, but she takes a few steps every day. She's learning!
I posted a few updated pics of the family. Hope everyone is doing well!

Lucy climbing up Grandma & Grandpa's stairs
My first trip to the South Jordan temple

Tom in front of the temple

Awww. I love him.

My good friend Kendall just had her baby girl. I forgot how tiny newborns are!

The lighting in this one is bad, but she is stinkin' cute!

learning to walk

Hi Mom!