Tweets for Today

• 10:06 Fri: Made Aliesha bday cookies. Sat: Took cookies to find open P.O. to send them. Sun: Opened package, ate cookies on way home from church. #
• 10:06 "The way to Hell is paved with good intentions." #
• 10:56 Doing laundry. Avoiding Easter candy. #
• 14:11 Talking myself out of exercising today and into eating candy. #
• 14:12 Fell asleep nursing the baby, like usual. Those afternoon feedings are a killer. #
• 15:51 Contemplating taking the boys to a department store...at four in the afternoon. May be crazy. #
• 17:59 Dinner tonight: pancakes. Either that or leftovers. #
• 20:55 Yuck. Sometimes leftovers are so blah. I hate that I even wasted calories on them tonight. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:19 Making tamales. And sweet pork. Love me some fresh mex. #
• 13:46 Tamale dough ranks right up there with cookie dough, if you ask me. #
• 13:53 Primary Teacher "How is your mommy nurturing in your home?..." HY: "She plays guns.." #
• 14:52 Squeezing lemons to make sherbet. Fiesta at my house, four o'clock! #
• 17:40 Partying with my friends. #
• 19:49 The men cleaned up. I'd call that a successful dinner. Next time let's try it without the kids. #

Tweets for Today

• 11:35 Getting pumped for Friday family venture. Already cleaned up several messes including, baby lotion, vinegar, broken glass, and hand soap. #
• 17:10 Did not need to eat the skittles, chips, Easter candy, and cookie dough today. That's what happens when Daddy comes home early. #
• 17:11 Working on dinner. #

Tweets for Today

• 14:56 Sleepy today. #
• 15:31 Thinking of taking the pilgrimage to Costco, just for the fun of it. #
• 21:17 Doing dishes, of course. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:10 Making Honey Bee cookies for "H" day. Yesterday was "T" day, hence the Tuna for dinner. #

Tweets for Today

• 14:46 Dieting again. "I will not eat a rootbeer float. I will not eat a rootbeer float..." #
• 15:26 Updating the budget. #
• 17:16 Dinner tonight: Tuna Noodle Casserole. ...Look, I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong. It's going to be good. #
• 21:41 Tuna didn't wow the crowd too much tonight. Surprise? #

Tweets for Today

• 10:46 Back from Vegas vacation. Organizing/cleaning house. LOVE daylight savings! #
• 10:56 Putting together new vacuum that we bought in Vegas. #
• 13:08 Milling brown rice to make hot cereal. Or, more accurately, HY is milling. He would have made a great pioneer. #
• 13:52 Wasting time reading blogs. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! #

Tweets for Today

• 10:54 Just cancelled cable...again. I have a love/hate relationship with TV. #

Tweets for Today

• 12:39 Curse you mini marshmallows!!! I don't even like you. Why do I keep eating you? #

Tweets for Today

• 15:47 Playing Candy Land with HY. He's winning. #
• 16:18 Dinner tonight: Grilled Curried Chicken with Summer Squash and Basmati Rice. #
• 20:05 Dinner was good. Kids in bed. Tomorrow I am going to thin out the toys by at least 30% and give to DI. What a great day! #

Tweets for Today

• 08:56 Lost two more pounds! 52 down, 27 to goal. Imagine how much faster I could do this if I didn't eat cookies/dough every other day. Hmph. #
• 09:11 Came in to find HY and EZ throwing bottles of various extracts down the length of the kitchen. "It's ok. We're just vanilla bowling, mom." #
• 11:30 Organizing the junk drawer. Next project: the top of the fridge. #
• 15:20 Enjoying a good laugh. www.passiveaggressivenotes.com #

Tweets for Today

• 16:16 Dinner tonight: Manicotti. A vast improvement over last nights--hot cereal. #
• 16:16 It's been a great day! #
• 17:30 Q's I've been asked in the last 15 min: Do ducks walk under water? Is salt strong? How do babies get into your tummy? Can lightning break? #
• 22:23 Reading Dad's blog. It's a nightly ritual. #

Paying it Forward

Rules:
*Be one of the first five bloggers to leave a comment on this post, and you will be given or sent a handmade gift from me! (read: homemade treat of some type)

*Winners may choose to post this challenge on their blog, or they can just 'pay it forward' in some other way.

*Basically we are starting a chain of 'pay it forward' kindnesses.


---

I got this from my friend who had this post on her blog yesterday. (I modified it a bit) Though it is definitely not my style to do this type of thing (forwards, games, surveys, etc) I have to admit, I was totally pumped to be one of the "winners." Originally you are supposed to win a great homemade, home-crafted item. But anyone who knows me knows that I don't have that great talent. Instead, I will make you something good to eat. I promise.

Then you can go on and do something nice for someone else.

(And yes, Meridith, this includes you. And yes, Meridith, I promise this time to really send you the cookies and not just take the box to the post office where I sit in the car, open the box, then eat all of the cookies while I talk to you on the phone...)

Can sand break? and other impossible 4-year-old questions

In the car today, Hy was doing his usual--barraging me with random questions about the world around us--when suddenly the conversation turned.

Hy: "how do the babies get in your tummy?"

Me: (where in the world did that come from?) "they grow in my tummy"

Hy: "no, but how do they get in there?"

Me: (weighing my options...) "after a mommy and a daddy get married in the temple they decide to have babies come to their family"

Hy: (exasperated) "no, how does the baby get in?"

Me: (hmmm...) "the daddy helps the mommy get the baby in her tummy then the baby grows bigger and bigger until mommy goes to the hospital and the doctor helps the baby come out."

Hy: "how does the baby come out?"

Me: "the doctor helps it come out"

Hy: "but, where does it come out?"

Me: "from my tummy"

Hy: (after thinking for a minute)"but your tummy doesn't have any cracks in it...where does it come out?

Me: (after thinking for a minute) "mommy's have a special place where babies come out"

Hy: "only mommy's have it?"

Me: "yes"

Hy: (long pause) "I want to see it."

Me: "ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm"

Hy: "next time you are in the hospital I want to come and see where the baby comes out"

Me: "Hmm. That might be interesting...actually when your wife is going to have a baby and you are big like Daddy, then you can go to the hospital and see where the baby comes out."

Hy: (thinking) "alright"

Tweets for Today

• 07:08 Ironing shirts and watching Curious George. #
• 11:53 Another sunny day. If only we could go to Lagoon. Now that would be fun! #
• 11:56 Starting solid foods--ASH, not me. The beginning of the end. Once you start 'em on food, you have to do it every day...messy gooey fun. #
• 15:46 Dinner tonight: Penne with roasted vegetables, Grilled chicken and balsamic glaze. #
• 21:06 Seriously scared after Obama's speech tonight. Is anyone listening to this? #

Tweets for Today

• 12:22 Cold day. Trying to get motivated to clean the house. #
• 12:48 Opening a particularly well-sealed box. Helpful EZ: just came running around the corner with a butcher knife. Oh, thanks Dude...scary. #
• 21:02 Watching "Fiddler On the Roof". Can't help but sing the whole time. TRADITION, tradition, da da da da da da da da da da, Tradition! #

Tweets for Today

• 15:08 Eliz and fam spent the weekend with us. I Fell way off the wagon. Can I get back up and go on? #
• 15:14 At least we went on a hike today. That's exercise, right? #

Tweets for Today

• 15:36 Wanting chocolate. #
• 15:38 Just made white chocolate covered popcorn. Ate half of it with the girls. Eliz is here. Let's make cookies. #

Tweets for Today

• 11:01 Feeling good again! Got the tax return, worked out, actually showered before noon... #
• 21:53 Long weekend here we come! #

Tweets for Today

• 12:37 I just don't feel like myself lately. #

Tweets for Today

• 15:57 Bad morning. Feeling sick, tired, overwhelmed, despair, etc. Spent the morning in tears along with the kids. #
• 15:59 Just got back from Walmart--the boys enjoyed their first corn-dogs and I commiserated with every tired looking person I could find. #
• 16:37 Note to self: don't let EZ eat an entire corn-dog again. He will throw it up on the carpet. #
• 21:13 I feel like I've bullied the children all day. Now I'm going to bed with guilt and pain for the innocent children that have me as their mom. #

Tweets for Today

• 09:16 Woke up with a fever and raging headache. Kids have fevers. Going to be a long day. #
• 14:38 Bored. Long long long long long Sunday. #
• 19:33 Stayed on calories today. Just took a 600 mg Ibuprofen. Feeling good. #

Tweets for Today

• 21:20 Just bought furniture at Smiths. Yes, that would be the grocery store... It was an impulse buy. #

Tweets for Today

• 08:53 Dear EZ, please stop slamming the toilet seat down. You are driving me crazy. Love, Mom #
• 15:28 Just got home from a family walk in the rain. I love Friday Family ventures. #
• 21:28 Put all three kids to bed at 6:30 p.m. Hooray! Estimated wake up: 5:30 a.m. Not as much hooray. #

Tweets for Today

• 21:59 I am tired. There is never enough time to get it all done. Someone is always awake. (And I never seem to be asleep.) #
• 22:00 At least I'm not eating cookies...or cookie dough. That is progress. #

I saw some long ago friends hanging out together tonight.

Seeing them caused me to step back and wonder about the decisions I have made in my life. I decided to get married. I decided to have children. I decided to stay home with them.

I decide to live on a pretty strict budget, and put a little away. I decide that extracurricular activities are a distraction, to me, away from what I'm trying to do right now. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Though these decisions are extremely satisfying in the long run, some nights I look back at my day and wonder "Deborah, are you getting boring? You used to be such a blast."

And then I remember that I have lots of friends and sisters that are also, at this very moment, dedicating their lives to wifehood and motherhood--and that I am not alone in this, sometimes, lonely endeavor.

Tweets for Today

• 07:25 Re-living last night's Taco Tuesday. Not something we will be repeating. #
• 08:53 Making griddle cakes (pancakes with cream of wheat in the batter) with EZ. #
• 08:53 @suznews Yum! #
• 09:15 Instead of eating the pancakes, EZ pulls off the pats of butter and eats them alone then declares "Mo bubba." A man after my own heart. #
• 11:45 Me and the boys rockin out to Michael Bolton. Nurturing the 47 year-old woman in all of us. #
• 14:50 Just found an open box of cake flour under HY's bed. He must have thought there was a cake inside... #

Tweets for Today

• 13:01 Looking for granola bar recipes. #
• 15:36 Dinner tonight: Spaghetti Bolognese #

Tweets for Today

• 20:28 Taxes are filed. Time to play. #

Tweets for Today

• 07:21 Yet another mornings workout foiled by early rising children. I'm going to have to get creative. #
• 08:42 Tired of brushing crumbs and dirt off of my feet after walking through the kitchen. Where's the broom? In the sandbox, of course! #
• 12:20 The joys of motherhood comes in moments for me. I love these little guys. #
• 16:07 Waiting for the baby to wake up so we can go swimming for our Friday Family "venture." #
• 16:11 Dinner tonight: Kraft Mac 'n Cheese for the kids--Mom and Dad are going out! #

Tweets for Today

• 13:33 Baking banana bread. Never realized that with a little chocolate and vanilla, boring old banana bread can be irresistible. #
• 16:28 Dinner tonight: spicy red beans and rice with grilled kielbasa. #
• 19:56 Just got home from a baby shower. House is clean. Kids in bed. Thanks Aaron! #

Tweets for Today

• 13:13 Feeling good today. Another pound out the door; 47 gone, 33 to go. If I could only resist that nagging urge to eat chocolate... #
• 15:34 Updating the budget (data entry to Quicken). Maybe I should have been a CPA. I love this stuff. #
• 16:28 Dinner tonight: leftovers. #
• 17:45 EZ just spilled an entire pitcher of cherry kool-aid on the carpet--which I promptly kneeled down in, in my white pants. Breathe... #

Tweets for Today

• 17:04 Dinner tonight: Spinach orzo soup with turkey-Parmesan meatballs. #

Tweets for Today

• 21:43 Scripture study with the hubby then off to bed. FHE particularly well received tonight. (EZ loves anything involving cheese...) #

Tweets for Today

• 14:13 Avoiding housework. Same old, same old. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:05 The latest buzz is about a (proposed) ten-year high school reunion. Looks like this Valentine's is going to be sans candy for me. #
• 13:31 Ok, I just saw a Barack Obama infant car seat cover for sale on ebay. I mean, he's nice and everything...but come on! #
• 13:45 Multi-tasking: perusing food blogs, collecting socks, fending off hungry children and helping Aaron memorize D&C 13. Not doing very well. #

Tweets for Today

• 12:33 Watching "Sword in the Stone" for the first time with HY. #

Tweets for Today

• 16:54 Just finished making four pans of pork enchiladas--they will now go into the freezer. #

Tweets for Today

• 12:06 One boy down for nap. One boy fussing. One boy sneaking cookies and refusing lunch. One girl surrounded by laundry. #
• 13:41 Making granola. #
• 16:11 Suffering from the "what to make for dinner" blues. #
• 21:48 Just finished laundry, dishes are going, my day is done. #

Tweets for Today

• 17:48 Completely amazed at the "inauguration coverage." We'll see how he does... #
• 20:31 Paying bills. I love paying bills. I think I was a secretary in my past life. #
• 20:52 Getting ready to do taxes. This is when it gets really fun! #

Tweets for Today

• 08:37 Making white chili for the office. Hopefully no disasters... #
• 12:31 Chili success! But in the process I ate two cupcakes--dense, buttery, yum goodness. I guess I'm having oranges for lunch. #
• 14:54 Laughing and playing in the sunshine with the boys. Mid 60's and not a cloud in the sky. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:40 Surfing the web for YW activity ideas. (My first thoughts always involve cooking, but it's hard to fit cooking into each value.) #
• 10:54 Just rescued a pen cap from a small hole outside and returned it to its tearful 4 yr old owner. Love doing hero work. #
• 15:59 Frustrated. Will he ever nap? #
• 20:06 Wasted all day working on meaningful YW activity. Didn't even do it. Came home to messy house. Goodnight. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:26 Sometimes I look around in awe..my life is so fun. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:33 Sushi has arrived. #

Top Ten Reasons Why I Am Really Very Very Old

1. I have lately fallen in love with wheat germ.
2. There are now so many white hairs growing from my head that I cannot pull them all out without making a small bald spot.
3. Going to bed before 9:30 p.m. and waking before 6:00 a.m. sounds really, really good.
4. The only magazine gracing the back of my toilet is the Ensign.
5. My favorite "late night" shows to watch on TV are the BBC world news followed by Perry Mason.
6. During the last few weeks I have craved and sought out oatmeal raisin cookies (I know, scary!).
7. The last three books I have read have been biographies.
8. I have noticed myself thinking lately "these commercials are so loud."
9. For Christmas, all I wanted was "happy children, etc."
10. I find myself trying to come up with some type of casserole, soup, etc that contains most of the leftovers in the refrigerator.

It's time to bring sexy back. I wonder if it's too late.

Tweets for Today

• 09:08 Dancing in the kitchen to "Mexican love music" with Aaron. Best way to start the day. #

Tweets for Today

• 11:59 Van Halen is hands down the best workout music. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:41 Just finished a pilates video. Hate to say it but I do feel more connected with my body. Watch out, now I'll start going hiking for fun. #
• 21:11 Walked the treadmill. Snuggling down now with a diet caffeine free Dr. Pepper and Perry Mason. #
• 22:28 Aaron came home, started eating. Social me: I sat down, ate two bowls of cereal and then 300 calories worth of dried marshmallows. GUILT. #

Tweets for Today

• 09:35 Got on the scale--two pounds less than I've seen so far! Wahoo. #
• 09:37 Running after kids already today. Woke up to finding HY and EZ enjoying pudding in bed. And is that a diaper I smell? Hmm. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:22 Just swept the kitchen. Nothing feels better than a freshly swept floor. I hope it lasts. #

Tweets for Today

• 08:44 New ward, new time, new calling: YW 1st Counselor. #
• 13:00 Flipping little boys over my head again and again and again. Aren't you guys dizzy? Mom is. #

Tweets for Today

• 20:09 Hanging with the in-laws. Eating chocolate. Good day. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:39 Headache. Not enough sleep. #
• 13:42 One more pound down. #
• 19:30 Seven-thirty and boys are in bed. Snuggling in for the night. #

Tweets for Today

• 07:42 Santa Came! Now, for the cleanup, and breakfast. #
• 16:02 Family project to get us out of the house. Putting up the new swing set in the cold sleety rain. Haven't had this much fun in a long time. #

Tweets for Today

• 10:42 Getting on the treadmill. Two kids taking naps. Aaaah, good morning! #
• 13:46 Just ate, like, ten cookies. But I'm swearing off dinner....yeah, right. #
• 23:25 Setting up an elaborate train set and village with Aaron. Can't wait until morning. #

Tweets for Today

• 09:59 Contemplating how to WOW the girls at Aaron's office. #
• 22:22 Merry Christmas Adam! #

Tweets for Today

• 09:18 Cleaning up an entire bag of rice that was spilled on the floor. "I'll make a better choice next time, Mommy." -HY #
• 14:40 Baking soft gingersnaps with the guys. Nothin' like ginger and cloves to get you in the mood. Next project: doughnuts? #

Tweets for Today

• 10:39 Crying for Elizabeth right now. What else can we do? #
• 13:33 One of THOSE days. EZ nap, ASH up, ASH nap, EZ up. No lunch, no exercise. Cookie dough is all I can think about. HELP! #

Tweets for Today

• 14:39 Baking bread with the boys. One batch of cinnamon rolls and two garlicky buttery loaves. Dirty, messy, ooey, gooey fun. #
• 17:22 Dinner tonight: Homemade mac 'n cheese. Well, make that cellentani and cheese. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:06 No snow here, but down one more pound. That is Christmas enough for me. #
• 17:20 Just found EZ up to the sink eating day-old cottage cheese from dirty dishes. (Hey EZ, does that taste a little like Feta?) #
• 17:22 Dinner tonight: Rotini with creamy pesto, summer squash, and baked chicken. YUM! #

Tweets for Today

• 10:01 Cleaning up play dough. Play dough always sounds like a good idea..but isn't. #
• 10:02 Down two more pounds. Skinny-land here I come! #

Tweets for Today

• 13:41 I am having sciatic nerve pain all the way down my leg. Ouch. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:38 Just came into the room to find HY and EZ covered the carpet with toothepaste, then doused it all with a good portion of baby oil. #
• 13:39 Seriously rethinking my "no spanking" parenting philosophy. #

Tweets for Today

• 21:08 Trying to fix the printer. Just finished boiling pacifiers. I need a life. #
• 21:09 This weeks food fetish: toasted wheat germ. Surprisingly yummy! #

Tweets for Today

• 11:54 Wasting time, should be getting ready for church. #

Tweets for Today

• 13:33 Just got music from JMC for my ward Christmas needs. Connections!!! #
• 21:00 Talking Christmas with Aaron. Yeah, I sleep with Santa. #

Here's to Seven

I love you, Honey.

Tweets for Today

• 07:13 Just washed off crusties from the boys eyes. Gotta love motherhood! #
• 15:04 @fuchsiasushi Still good for one week after sell by date! Cultures, yum! #
• 15:05 Just ate three cookies...ok five. Starting that diet in five, four, three, two, one, GO! #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

Me 'n Ez-Dawg, Yo

The best part about being on vacation is that I don't have to worry about laundry and dishes and bills. I can just play with my sweet little guys. Life couldn't get much sweeter.

Aint it Grand?

I don't think I've ever been happier in my life than now. We are really living the dream.

The Pep-Me-Up

I am on a diet. And the children are throwing up. It's been a bad week thus far.

I keep thinking to myself "where is the cookie dough...if I could just eat some cookie dough I know that I would feel better." But NO! I will trudge on through the temptation to over-eat this diet!!! I will. I will. I can do this.

I am still a babe, it is just that the curves are a tad, well, "filled-out" you could say. The time has come to trim them down to Phenomenal Woman proportions. Phenomenal woman, that's me!

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

Just When You Think You've Got it All Figured Out

Every birth story is memorable. But I don't think we will ever outdo the surprise we got at the end of this one.


Aaron performing the "push it out, squeeze it out, waaaaay out" pre-birth dance.


Deborah all prepped for vomiting, yet still smiling!


Welcome....baby boy #3, a more masculine arrival than expected, but cute nonetheless.


Welcome to the house of testosterone. I am really outnumbered now.

Woops!

Last night I was so bored that I actually sat down to watch "Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium" It is a strange film. About one hour into it I was completely asleep. This seems to be my pattern lately--boredom to sleep. What I need is a good, gripping book. But whenever I go to the library it is constant work to keep EZ from pulling down every book at his eye level, while the cranky teen-aged librarian mutters annoyances left and right. "Mess..." "Takes forever to clean up...."

Generally boredom leads, for me, to creative cooking. However, I have lately (and, hopefully, temporarily) lost the drive to make late-night goodies. Plus, I have had some interesting cooking mishaps over the last little while.

One morning, several weeks ago, Aaron called me and told me that he forgot that he was supposed to provide the "birthday treat" for a coworker that day. "No problemo," I thought. HY and I will whip up something gorgeous to showcase our excessive domestic talents and WOW the girls in the office. (Oh yeah, and EZ can help too.)

I decided to make individual chocolate tarts. But I didn't want to just fill some pie dough with chocolate pudding and call it good. Yuck. So I spent the morning tweaking a brownie/cookie recipe to fit in as tart dough. Then the boys and I scoured the local grocery haunt for decent chocolate that we could temper in heavy cream. The idea was to come up with something between ganache and chocolate whipped cream (a very light mousse, if you will) that we could pipe into our tart shells.

Well, like every single time that I cook to impress and act all "I'm such an oustanding gourmet," something went very very wrong. We had to have the tarts at Aaron's office by 3:00 p.m. At 2:35 I had the cooled chocolate cream whipping away in the mixer while I grated fine chocolate into beautiful velvety shreds. The next thing I know, HY walks out naked from the bathroom requesting some help with the Charmin portion of his toilette..and I hear EZ splashing away in the soiled toilet water. Ugh.

It turns out that while Mom was busy tempering chocolate, HY went to the bathroom then popped off the toilet to sit on the edge of the bathtub to play with a toy (effectively soiling the shower curtain that was in the way, and allowing EZ ample opportunity to splash away to his little heart's content.)

A round of disinfectant later, I returned to the kitchen to find chocolate butter in the mixer. Yes, I had over-beaten the cream, which had separated into unappealing little balls of chocolate flavored butter. I COULD HAVE DIED. It was now about 2:50 p.m. and I was supposed to be filling little tart shells, but, instead, I was staring at chocolate butter wondering what in the world I was going to do with it.

In the end, I melted some of the chocolate butter and tried to pour some of it over solid chocolate pieces in the tart shells, then cover them in whipped cream and cocoa powder.

I was so embarassed about the whole thing that I made Aaron come out into the parking lot to get them instead of bringing them in myself.

On Love

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the east doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor aught but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so perservere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Ann Bradstreet

----

In an attempt to de-clutter the garage as of late, I have been thumbing through notebooks of correspondence between Aaron and me before we got married. There are literal reams. I keep thinking that one day all of these letters and notes will be a treasure to future generations in testimony of a great love story. But to me, reading it leaves me with a wealth of conflicting emotions.

One is almost akin to embarassment--like reading entries from your junior high diary, where you felt much but understood little. Another is a surge of nostalgia for the heady days of love unrequited, few serious responsibilities, and, let's be honest, the bloom of physical youth. (Did I mention there are several pictures accompanying these letters--I was a babe!) Not that I'm not still "youthful" as far as age goes, but the bloom does seem slightly tarnished. (And being seven months pregnant probably adds to my woebegone feeling.)

In reading over it all, you can practically feel the drama. Each page literally drips with tension, kindness, hopefulness, anticipation, admiration, and humor. It leaves me wondering if the very ardent expressions of affection belied in these notes really capture the essence of genuine love, and, if so, do I still feel it to the same degree. (Or am I exploring the inevitable surge of irrational emotions that accompany the last trimester of pregnancy a tad too much...)

When I think about it...I almost think that, though it's not captured on paper for posterity, there is more genuine love in our relationship now--captured in small moments like the satisfaction of working together on the yard on Saturday and falling asleep, exhausted, but holding hands.

The Lionhearted

Alright folks, I've gained 12 pounds in 4 weeks. Oh yeah, baby!

Baby girl is now being called "Sissy" or "little sissy" by HY and Aaron. During HY's nightly prayer, I often hear him say "bless sissy, that she will get bigger and bigger." Well, let's just say that his prayers must be earnest 'cause Mommy is feeling like she is getting bigger and bigger. Sweet HY. There is so much faith in him.

Of course, I forget his innocence throughout the day and get after him. It is sometimes only after he is asleep and calm, that I remember how sweet and genuine and good he is. The fun thing (and hard thing) about HY is that he is 1. smart, 2. fiercely independent and 3. sneaky. Basically HY always does exactly what he would like to do. All I can do, as Mom, is distract (for awhile), persuade (if possible), or supervise. Supervision, I have found is the best measure with HY. Because as far as distraction and persuasion go...well it's only a matter of time. Mom will eventually be in the bathroom or be busy putting EZ to bed, then it's HY Time!

"Pour me a drink my head is spinning. I gotta celebrate...a girl"

So I have been singing Shenandoah since last Friday when we found out that we are having a baby girl. Funny thing is, though, after being positive through every previous pregnancy that we were having a girl, with this one I am not sure... The technician at one point said "Oh, wait, maybe there is something more there...well... buy girl clothes, but don't take off the tags." That didn't leave me overly confident in pink purchasing. HY, however, has been telling us about his "baby sister" from the first day. We are so excited.

This One is for Jamie

There are truly few people that I will respond to in this world. Especially when it comes to "pass it on emails" and "blog tagging." But I truly love Jamie (read: wish to be like her one day) so I will make an exception. Here it goes.

A-Z Tag

A - Attached or Single: I've been attached to this boy from the first day I saw him (September 11, 1998). He's just as cute now as then. Married almost 6 years.

B - Best Friends: Aaron, Mom and Mom-in-law, Sisters and Sisters-in-law, Jamie W. AND, though I don't see or talk to them much, Sarah and Happiness will forever be my best girls.


C - Cake or Pie: Oh honey, either. Let's get serious, though. Lemon cake layered with mascarpone cheese then soaked in cream and chilled. Wipe yourself off the floor after that one. Raspberry pie doesn't hurt either. Let's have a little of both, shall we?

D - Day of choice: (Warning: This is a cheesy answer. If you gag easily, move to question E.) I love any day when I get to spend it with Aaron,... especially if we were spending it at a theme park for the day!!!

E - Essential Item: Mascara, jet black, Clinique, any kind. Oh yeah, and a good bra.

F - Favorite Color: yellow, purple, and (this is a real shocker to all who know me) that blueey greyee color that has hints at times of turquoise.

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: neither (It's so liberating to have candy that I don't like for once.)

H - Hometown: Orem, Utah

I - Indulgence(s): Perfume, makeup, Banana Republic jeans (which I haven't worn in years...*tear), and food at really really really expensive restaurants.

J - January or July: July. No contest.

K - Kids: HY, EZ, Baby #3 due in September. 3 down 10 to go!


L - Life is incomplete without: Family, and laughing. And laughing at, I mean with, family.

M - Marriage Date: 2002

N - Number of Siblings: 3 brothers, 3 sisters, 5 brothers-in-law, 7 sisters-in-law--love them all.

O - Oranges or Apples: Oranges

P - Phobias or Fears: Everyone who knows, knows that I am a tad bit on the morbid side and am constantly positive that I am going to die, or Aaron is going to die, or whatever... I am notorious for leaving "last notes" that say "I will love you forever and ever" on a post-it-note on the fridge when I leave. Just in case.

Q - Quotes: "A waist is a terrible thing to mind."

S - Season: Fall. So romantic. Don't even get me started.

T - Tag Three Friends: Honestly it would be fun to have this info on some Sisters--Eliz, Suzanne, Aliesha, Mermer, Amber, etc (Not Susannah. I know way too much about her already. Chopped Spam!)

U- Unknown fact about me: I failed the AP English exam. Ok, I said it. It is out in the open. And everyone can know. But, who cares about high school anymore? Not me.

V - Very favorite store: Williams and Sonoma. Could you just die?

W - Worst habit: Overeating., and saying way more than I should. Discretion is a virtuous ideal. One day I will have it.


X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds. Only x-rays I've had are teeth ones. Joy.

Y - Your favorite food: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Let's talk about what I don't like (other than poorly prepared food): eggs, green beans, oreo cookies, some mushrooms, mussels...

Z - Zodiac: Cancer (compatibility match to the Taurus which I happen to be married to)

See! I always knew that I was a giver..

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?

This is so true, it's scary. At least the "When Other People Don't Get You" part. Even I think that of myself sometimes! Hahahahahahahahahaha.

Highs and Lows

Well, this year has had many twists and turns already in our little lives. My blog title has become a misnomer as currently I am NOT enjoying food--the taste, texture, or smell...but that is another blog in itself. There is, however, enough information this week to compile a (drumroll) highs and lows list.

Highs then Lows for February

H: Our tax return will pay to finish the back yard of our children's dreams.
L: Our tax return will barely cover grass, sprinkler, and fence...that's it.

H: I am decidedly not hungry for "naughty" foods.
L: It won't last.

H: The boys have finally discovered each other as best buddies.
L: Best buddies in crime... Deborah: "How did EZ get in here to swish in the toilet (play in the garage, sit on the front porch, get in the shower, eat this... etc)?" HY: "I help him...!"

H: Aaron has committed himself to the care of the boys in the morning so that Deborah can go to the gym.
L: Deborah has gone once.

H: HY's ability to communicate gets better every day
L: HY's resistance to being corrected is reinforced by his blooming communication skills.

Deborah "HY, please don't hit EZ" HY (while still hitting EZ) "I'm not hitting him." Deborah "Well please don't bonk him on the head." HY (still hitting) "I'm not bonking him." Deborah "Please stop, HY" HY (under his breath) "...I'm bamming him..."

H: Aaron and I will be participating in a reenactment of the Mormon Pioneers pulling handcarts on a 5 day trek with the youth in our community.
L: One of the necessary skills to have as per our leader handbook is "kill and prepare live fowl"

H: Aaron and I have discovered the wonders of reading Harry Potter.
L: Aaron and I stay up until 2:30 a.m. discovering the the wonders of reading Harry Potter.

H: We're going on a Disney cruise this summer with the entire extended family.
L: Ain't nothin low about that.

Here's Robin

HY as Robin Hood

Doughnuts, Dinosaurs and...Robin Hood

So, for Halloween I agreed to make 150 doughnuts for the annual "trunk or treat" party at the church. In the end, I made more like 180+, about 65 yeast-raised, and 120+ old-fashioned.

Though it seemed a tid bit like "neglect your children day," HY did have periodic fun helping me. "I make the teeny teeny baby doughnuts, ok Mom, the baby doughnuts that cry and cry...(referring to the doughnut holes)"

As far as the acutal evening festivity went: HY won an award (or I did, I guess) for his costume "Best Handmade Costume" which went up on our 2007 Wall of Fame. Everyone loved the doughnuts. And EZ takes the cake for being the best child in the world: stuffed into a hot and humiliating dinosaur costume for several hours past bedtime without making a peep of protest. I love my sweet boys!

Day 2

We wake up at 8:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. Nevada time) to the phone ringing. It is Sunday, and we are supposed to go to church with Aaron's brother and his family at 9:00. Yeah, not going to happen...

Plan B: "Let's go to the Ward that meets at 1:00."

Deborah runs downstairs in pajamas (and no foundation undergarment) to gather something for breakfast from the 'Hometouch Breakfast Buffet' as all three boys are passed out on the beds and the buffet closes in 10 minutes .

Deborah returns with a shockingly large plate of biscuits with sausage gravy,"Cheerios" (Fruit Loops), milk, and a banana.

Finally the natives stir (minus HY) and we manage to get everybody in church appropriate attire.

Aaron wakes HY.

HY whines and walks around in a daze searching for the "Trains outside" (a carryover memory from a previous stay in San Diego)

Deborah finally coaxes HY into a tie by promising an entire bag of microwave popcorn for breakfast.

12:55, we leave our hotel room.

Aaron mumbles all the way to the car. "We can't EVER get to church on time!!!"

Deborah appoints herself as navigator since she was the most coherent family member when Heather gave directions at 9:00a.m.

Deborah quickly realizes that she was "more tired than [she] thought" when taking directions as we have difficulty finding the first street.

HY munches happily away on his entire bag of microwave popcorn and cup of Fruit Loops.

We pass by the Arlington Cemetery and take the exit to the Pentagon. Read: Away from Arlington, Virginia. "Maybe this exit will go back in a loop or something."

EZ puts in a request for a "morning snack."

EZ's request goes unheeded for the moment.

Deborah's chipper comments about how beautiful the scenery is and how "at least we are having a nice drive" start to visibly annoy Aaron who is intent on getting us to Church before Monday.

Thirty minutes later we are back to our hotel after a lovely drive through our Nation's Capital.

Plan C: Skip church (which is almost over anyway) and go straight to Ashley and Heather's. (Back to Deborah's scrawled directions.)

We find Wilson Boulevard and drive straight for twenty minutes trying to find Manchester.

We take several exploratory excursions away from Wilson trying to jog Aaron's memory of where Ashley's home is. "We're close...I can feel it."

EZ's requests for sustenance start to jangle Daddy's nerves.

EZ enjoys Mommy's finger for the remainder of the trip.

HY + popcorn = happy silence.

We finally pull over and have "Family Prayer."

Minutes later, we pull up at Ashley's home.

We spend the remainder of the day enjoying the cool weather and the fact that we are not feeling our way around Virginia anymore.

Aaron and Ashley mapquest several places so our "Sunday Drive" will not be repeated.

We return to the Hotel happy and rejuvenated.

Family Summer Vacation 2007 - Day 1

Day 1

Deborah dresses HY and EZ in matching outfits in the vain hope that it will charm the stewardesses and other passengers enough to assuage any annoyances on the plane.

HY sits on the table and eats as many of the "special plane treats" as he can find.

Deborah packs for everybody into one giant suitcase.

Aaron re-packs everybody into two large suitcases and three carry-ons.

Deborah stops to feed EZ.

HY stuffs five teddy bears, two stuffed dogs, three blankets and a Thomas the Train DVD into one of the family suitcases while Deborah is barricaded behind the Boppy. "Mommy, I all packed!"

Aaron dilly-dallies, basking in the fact that he is DONE with work for the next seven days.

Aaron quickly sobers when he sees the pile to be greased into the Buick: two large suitcases, three carry-ons, one diaper bag, one Pack and Play, one stroller, and two car seats.

Both Aaron and Deborah wonder out loud how they will get "all this honk to the terminal anyway."

Deborah feeds EZ.

-----

We arrive at the airport in record time and discover the wonder of the "Smart carte"--for three measly dollars you can rent the equivalent of three more adults.

The children cooperate beautifully and we breeze through security and arrive at the terminal with enough time to buy some expensive goodies to eat on the plane. Aaron purchases two Baja Mama burritos and a four dollar bottle of water, while Deborah buys three extra extra large slices of Sbarros pizza and a breadstick.

We board the plane--seats in the very last row.

HY watches movies and eats snacks.

Deborah feeds EZ.

Aaron contorts his body into amazing positions to accommodate EZ's penchant for nursing WITHOUT a blanket, and to shield Deborah from rubberneckers standing in line for the potty.

We arrive without incident at 11:00pm D.C. time.

-----

Deborah feeds EZ.

After picking up our new wheels (a red Dodge Caravan), we drive around for thirty minutes wondering which way might be the way to our hotel.

EZ starts crying.

In a fit of annoyance Aaron declares all maps in our car "D-U-M" and we hop on whichever highway we see first.

Finally, Deborah sees a Courtyard Marriott and implores Aaron to pull over and ask for directions.

EZ screams his guts out in the car.

HY starts whining for milk.

Aaron finds a 7-Eleven and everyone gets their beverage of choice: Aaron-powerade, Deborah-water, HY-milk, Ezra......

HY and EZ finally give up the fight and fall asleep. Aaron and Deborah enjoy the rest of the ride in blessed silence.

1:00a.m., we see the Residence Inn.

1:30a.m., everyone is settled.

to be continued...

Outsourced

Well, if I was ever viciously attacked and kidnapped out of my home, leaving the children stranded, EZ would be sorely out of luck...but HY would do just fine. This morning I woke up at about 6:30 with EZ. After feeding him and putting him back in his bed I decided to skip the gym (alright, the gym was really only a fleeting thought that was quickly dismissed) and go back to sleep. I knew HY would still sleep for about another hour. So at 9:00 I wake up with a start: the baby is fussing on the baby monitor and....what?...is the TV on?

HY had woken up and:

1. Plugged the TV and VCR in and put in a movie to watch
2. Climbed up the shelves in the pantry, retrieved a box of cheerios
3. Climbed up on the counter (with the help of a chair) and got out a bowl which he filled with said Cheerios
4. Climbed up again and got out a sippy cup and lid
5. Got a full gallon of milk out of the fridge, put it on the table and filled his sippy cup
6. Replaced the lid on the milk and on his sippy cup
7. Put the cheerios back on the proper shelf
8. Got out a hand towel to clean up the spilt milk (when I got there there was only a few drips left and a wet towel)

When I got out to the living room he was sitting on the floor proudly watching his movie and eating breakfast. "I do it myself, Mommy!"

And all this from the man that somehow cannot figure out how to actually "go" when placed on a toilet. Hmmmmmmmm.

It's Gone!

HY got his first "real" haircut today with me at our local hair salon. He was a very very good boy and held completely still the entire time with a terrified look on his face. When I took him to see Aaron at work after the haircut, Aaron about started crying. I had no idea how much the baby shag meant to everyone. Anyway, here are the pics of my little boy--a little man now with a real, little man hairdo. Such a cute kid.

Before:


After (spiky styled by HY's new personal stylist "Mindy"):


After (after bath):

Announcing Baby Boy #2

Brand New Baby Boy!


I look just like HY did!


Look at my great hair!


Just came home.


My Daddy scowled in his first pictures too.

A Whole Lotta Shakin and a Bowl of Fiesties

Life is on speed here in our little town. We are buying a house and having a baby this month--two stressful experiences that, when combined, have produced lots of tears (me) and frustrations (Aaron).

I am definately coming up to delivery time. I can tell because I am starting to cry at the drop of a hat. And Aaron is "trying to remember that this is what pregnancy is like..." Blah, blah, blah, blah. Ok, I know that women are irrational, etc, when pregnant. But here is a word to the wise: Don't ever say that out loud (or even hint about it) to your wife. Just go on like normal. No woman wants to hear "Oh....I forgot this is how you are when your pregnant."

Excuse me?

Oh no you didn't just say that...

It makes me want to say "Oh.....I forgot this is how YOU are when I'm pregnant."

I know, pretty fiesty. I said I was almost there, didn't I? All things being said, though, I have an amazingly patient and kind husband that really does try to roll with all the ups and downs of his wife's personality. And he does it with a surprising amount of grace and generosity. I'm lucky.

-------

So I've received like a million fill-in-the-blank forwards in the past couple of weeks. They're like the epidemic that never goes away. Hopefully by posting my answers here and not replying to everyone I can still do my duty in "not spoiling the fun."

Here we go:

1. What is your occupation? Mother/Homemaker

2. What color are your socks right now? Try to avoid wearing socks as much as possible

3. What are you listening to right now? Lion King DVD

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Herbed chicken tortellinni, last night

5. Can you drive a stick shift? of course

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? some sort of tourquoisey blue

7. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? Shannon, the enrichment counselor in my ward

8. Who sent this to you? Mermer

9. How old are you today? 25

10. Favorite drink: Water (seriously), but pina coladas come in second with a really cold Sprite, ginger ale and/or cranberry juice coming in close behind

11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football, duh

12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Once Happy dyed it for me, and Sushi put "low-lights" in it once

13. Pets? Definately, no

14. Favorite food? Yes

15. What was the last movie you watched? I can't remember the last video I watched in its entirety, but I did this morning watch a few minutes of "Lady and the Tramp"

16. Favorite day of the year? Way too many to pick...July 4th, Thanksgiving, any day that Susannah surprises me with stuffed-crust pizza!

17. What do you do to vent anger? Throw plates, yell and scream, hit random collectibles and antiques with my sons plastic baseball bat. No, really though, I don't know how I vent anger. I probably think of something yummy to make/eat.

18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Anything domestic on a minature scale, dolls, pretend food...

19. What is your favorite Fall or Spring? Fall, the smell of apple orchards, the crisp, cold, sunny days, the football games, the school supplies stocked in every store...it's all very very romantic to me.

20. Hugs or kisses? How about both...at the same time.

21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry (we're talking about fruit here, right?)

22. Do you want your friends to email you back? If they would like

23. Who is most likely to respond? Susie (just comments, I mean)

24. Who is least likely to respond? Barack Obama

25. Living arrangements? TBA

26. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday, last night...pretty much all day yesterday

27. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, bags, (very expensive ties that some two year old finds pleasure in daily pulling down from their hanging spots)

28. What did you do last night? Cried. Signed papers to buy our first home. Made dinner. Rehearsed a 12 voice women's chorus. Brought a birthday gift to a girl I visit teach.

30. Favorite smell? Aaron's cologne, vanilla, butter, etc

31. What/Who inspires you? Family

33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheesburgers, yummmy

34. Favorite car? Don't know...the VW Beetle is fun to drive, though. Maybe a SmartCar

35. Favorite dog breed? Yea, no idea

36. Number of keys on your key ring? Like, five billion

37. How many years at your current job? Hahahahahahahahahahhahahahah

38. Favorite day of the week? Friday

39. How many states have you lived in? two, Utah and Nevada

40. Favorite holiday? July 4th

41. Have you ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? Uh, no

42. If you had a 7 day fully paid for vacation to anywhere in the world, where
would you go? Italy, if at my current weight..., some tropical destination or cruise if I was 40+ pounds lighter

High School: Orem

Favorite fruit: Raspberries, plums

Favorite weather: Sunny but cold/crisp

Like someone: I currently do have a crush on one boy...

Want piercings: no

Want a tattoo?: Only if you do it too

Last person to text u on ur phone? du u txt on ur fn?

Person IMed on-line? IMed?...do you mean IM'd?

Blue or red? Oh, honey, both

Do you speak a different language? Spanish (though "speak" is a genrous term)

How old do you act? Who wrote these questions?

Mood? Happy, yet emotional

The 4 W's Questions:

Whos in the room with you? no one

What was the last thing you ate? Tortellinni

What was the last thing you drank? Water

What color pants are you wearin? Not wearing pants currently

What is the closest item near you that is blue? water bottle

What are you wearing on your feet? nada

What instant messaging service do you use? Oh please, like I have time to IM

What do you wear more, jeans or shorts? Um, do sweat pants count?

Where do you sleep? WHO WROTE THESE QUESTIONS?

Where did you get the shirt you are wearin? Not wearing a shirt

Which is Better With The Opposite Sex __

067. Cute or pretty: Cute

068. Lips or Eyes: I would prefer that they have both lips and eyes, but if I had to choose....lips

069. Hugs or Kisses: Both

070. Short or Tall: Aaron's height

071. Easygoing or serious: Both

072. Romantic or Spontaneous: romantic

073. Muscular or Skinny?: Aaron

074. Sensitive or Loud? Sensitive

075. Hook-up or Relationship: Obviously this is a survey for someone younger than me...

076. Sweet or Caring? Both

___Have You Ever___

078. Kissed a Stranger? Not really

079. Drank Bubbles? When I was little, yes.

080. Lost glasses/contacts? no

083. Got an X-ray? yes

084. Broken Someone's Heart? Every day, pretty much

085. Had your heart broken? Sure

086. Have you been used? no

087. Cried When Someone Died? Yes

088. Cried At School? Yes

___Do You Believe In___

089. God? Yes

090. Miracles: yes

091. Love At First Sight: Yes

092. Ghosts: Whatever

093. Aliens: No.

094. Magic: Sure

095. Heaven: Yes

096. Hell: Yes

097. Cheating: Do I believe in cheating? no

098. Kissing on The First Date: Why not?

099. Horoscopes?: No

Just Go to Bed!!!!!

Well we thought we solved our problem of Hyrum going to sleep in his big boy bed. After talking it over with several parents in Utah we finally came up with the idea to put the child proof door handle on the inside of his door at night. This way I would say "Goodnight sweetheart," hand him his piggie flashlight and a couple of books and then close his door. (Later, after he was asleep I would open the door so he could get us if he needed something in the middle of the night.) This was a dynamite plan and it worked beautifully for three nights--no fussing, no messing around, no Deborah or Aaron camped on Hyrum's floor for half of the night.

However, Wednesday night Mr. Smarty Pants out-thought the system. I put him to bed about 8:30p.m., at about 10:30p.m. I came upstairs, thinking that all was quiet and well with him, and noticed that there was light coming from under his door. The little guy had simply got out of bed and turned on his bedroom light. By the time I got up there he had his entire toy box poured out on the floor, every colored ball on his bed, and he was standing on his rocking chair trying to reach items on a top shelf. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! He cracked the system!!! It's not like I can put a child-lock on the light switch. Now I have to re-think this whole thing all over again.

The Family Car

So the big conversation around the house lately is that we need another car. Maybe it is because I am pregnant and, let's be honest with each other here, out of my mind emotional and irrational, but I can't get my mind around this concept. I think I said something today to Aaron about him "not wanting to be in the same car with us anymore" and that is why he wants his "own" car. Aaron just laughed. "Deborah, I just need to be able to be on time for work without having to wait for everyone to be ready." And, you know, he has a point there. Especially since baby #2 will be arriving shortly. Plus I'm not in love with sitting outside his office for twenty minutes waiting for him to come out, or rushing through something to pick him up, or being STRANDED in this teeny little house all day. Ok, so maybe it is an ok idea after all.

The one thing about it is that I don't want to be lumped into the "Mommy and Kids" car category while Daddy has his car. Although, I guess I should have thought about that before we had Hyrum. When you have children, in a sense, you start to get all lumped together as a category in you husband's mind: wife and kids. It's like we are luggage or something. Notice it is never "Daddy and kids" car. No no no. Yet at the same time, would I want that? No.

I can see that my senses are somewhat muddled by hormones at the moment. Somewhere deep down a part of me wants to think logically and say "yes, poor chap, he needs his own transportation." After all he has basically been dropped off or encouraged to ride public transit for the last four years. By golly! Is giving the man his own vehicle the end of the world? NO! It actually would free us all up.

We'll see how I feel about this tomorrow...

It's a Boy!!!

I think I am more excited for this baby than I even was for Hyrum. I just think of how much fun I have with Hy-guy and dream about having another little guy running around with us too. It will be so fun.

Though, I have several friends in the past couple of months that have delivered with my same doctor and they all had c-sections. Hmmmm... I hope my doctor is not one of those that goes right to c-section at any potential complication. I cannot have 13+ children via c-section! No, seriously though, I am a teeny bit worried about his track record. Now I am going to have to sit down and actually talk to him about it--which will be awkward--and come to some kind of, dare I say, "birthing plan." I know, I know, I shudder at the thought of being so....so....like the kind of mothers described in the book
What to Expect While Your Expecting.

"No, I don't eat cheese that hasn't been boiled first...it may hurt the baby..."
"I sleep only on my left side because if I lay on my back my baby will die"
"I faithfully count every kick and record it in my 'baby movement journal' to speak with my doctor about"
"I've made plans with my nanny so that she will be in the delivery room with me so she can begin to bond with the baby right away."
"I expect my spouse to get up, diaper, and bring the baby to me before every middle-of-the-night feeding, then take the baby back to bed when the baby is finished eating. I need my rest."
"My husband and I have written my birthing plan and have made copies for each member of the staff at the hospital."
"My doula says...."

Seriously, if you really listened to, and followed, all the advice in that book, you would be so psycho. Come on girls, millions of healthy babies are born every day to mothers that blissfully ate cheese while laying on their backs throughout their entire prenancy. Shocking!

Labor Day

Monday started out as a pretty fun day. Aaron and Hyrum and I cleaned out the garage and then "helped" daddy take apart the car door. By the time Hyrum went down for a nap I was ready for one too. Unfortunately, I got wrapped up in reading Truman by McCullough and...three and a half hours later (yes, Hyrum was still asleep) I finally finished it. Though I love to read and it was fun to take such a long break I got up feeling a little dazed, like I had spent the last several hours watching pointless TV. Then things just started going downhill from there. Aaron was at a standstill on the car project and Hyrum had taken such a long nap that there was no chance in him retiring for good anytime soon so we were left with the dillemma of the summer: What can we do in this town for fun?

We had already been to St. George twice over the weekend so that was out, plus we were almost out of gas and short on cash. I flat refused to go back to Walmart, on the basis that we have nothing to buy, nothing to buy it with, and I have every square inch of the establishment memorized. We don't know the sex of the baby so buying baby clothes is still somewhat a guessing game. And we all were hungry, yet not in the mood to eat fast food. Aaron drove us around the town for a little while, then back home. We were SO BORED. Even thinking of going back into the boring house made me want to cry, yet I didn't want to keep driving around the boring town. It really got bad when we went inside, though. Hyrum started pulling every book off the bookshelf while Aaron and I just sat and watched. Then we got this great idea to make dinner together, which would have been fun if we had some meat in the house. Finally we settled for a box of frozen fish sticks, some quick grits flavored with velveeta, and reheated frozen mixed vegetables. You think I'm kidding. I'm not. It was really THAT BAD! While we waited for our fishies to cook we entertained ourselves by Aaron copycating me and me making a spontaneous mixture of cornstarch and water to play with (the same concoction we used to make as kids on boring Sunday afternoons, and yes I did also think of making a "volcano eruption" with baking soda and vinegar). Later I wanted to bug everyone in the house by performing "trust tests" on them. Yeah, pretty much we all reverted back to nine year old siblings with nothing to do but bother each other. After dinner Aaron and I had twinkies for dessert (to balance out our nutritous and well planned dinner), then we went to the river. It was Aaron's idea to go down to the river and it turned out to be the best idea of the day. We had a lot of fun. Aaron and Hyrum splashed in the mud, hunted rocks, and waded up to Hyrum's knees (obviously it's not that deep). Because I had shoes on I stayed on the bank and Aaron taught me how to skip rocks. We got to watch the sunset together and played until we almost couldn't see the other side anymore.

Moral: We need to find some friends in this town. I need to have better ingredients on hand. We need to go explore together as a family more. I need to bring my camera next time.