an update for my Mom

cutest school pictures ever? I think so

I keep telling my Mom things that are happening when we talk on the phone and she says "how come you don't have that up on the blog?" And I say, "cause I'm too darn busy to blog!" and she says "do it anyway! for posterity!" Just kidding, she doesn't say that. But, a lot has been happening around here so let's catch up, shall we?

First and foremost, David is walking. Everywhere. And doing this cute thing where he takes something he's not supposed to take and then giggles and tries to run away but then he's all wobbly and ends up falling over. It kills me. I've taken multiple videos of said walking but for some reason I can't upload them. Boo.

But, he is sleeping better at night which is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And I do have a picture of that:

And he and Audrey are really starting to play well together and I'm loving it.

Another something very important but that I don't have a picture of: Justin is double-majoring. It's a lot of work but he's dedicated and studying hard. Double-majoring means that when he graduates in 2013 he will have not one, but two bachelors degrees. One in secondary education with a minor in political science, and one in history. Three degrees total. That is exactly two more degrees than I have. I'm not jealous. Really, I'm not. I'm not.

I have had a great big spot of what I thought was leprosy but turned out to be a cold sore on my lip for at least two weeks now and therefore have not left the house at all without wearing a paper bag over my head.

And while taking the picture above I noticed that my nails matched my outfit so I took a picture of that just because.

Audrey got a new bed (finally!) which meant a whole new room make-over.

We put up our Christmas tree on Sunday

And...

Last night I cut David's hair for the first time ever. I've been putting it off because I love his little baby hair and everyone has told me that it will make him look older. But last night we finally decided to do it.

Before:

After:

Yes, I cried.

I cut it from the back while he was eating a sucker and watching 'Bubble Guppies' (his favorite show ever) and I didn't want to look at him from the front because I could see already it was changing his little face.

But it's cute. I'm trying to get used to it.

Audrey's birthday after the fact

under his spell

Why didn't someone warn me about newborns?

Someone should have mentioned that they're totally and completely wonderful.
(at least, mine is.)



Someone should have told me that all I would ever want to do is hold him- that laundry, and dishes, and dust would pile up all around me while I stare at his tiny face and that I wouldn't care at all.

(maybe you did warn me- but I didn't believe you.)

I am unable to resist kissing his head twenty thousand times a day. His tiny newborn sighs and squeaks turn me to butter. He smells amazing, his hair and skin are so soft and lovely. I have a hard time letting anyone else hold him. Diaper changes and midnight feedings are a joy because they mean more time to take care of him.



Other things are happening in our lives, I promise they are. Things that should be on the blog. Audrey is the cutest big sister you've ever seen, wanting to hold him and fetching diapers and pacifiers before I can even ask her. She also saw Santa last night and it was kind of a big deal. Justin has picked up extra work, is making big time plans for our family, and has even shaved his beard. (I miss it just a little). I plan on writing about David's birth, which was such an amazing experience, soon before I forget any detail.

But first, for right now the blog may be more quiet than usual- I've got to let some things slide and just stare at his tiny face. I'm sorry, I really don't have a choice.

(consider yourself warned.)

falling in love (for the third time)

7 years

I can remember the exact moment that I decided to marry Justin.

I was fresh from the College of Southern Idaho with an associates degree in Political Science. I had just moved from my parents house to a small room in my aunt's basement in Boise and was preparing to go to BSU to finish my bachelor's degree in the fall. Beyond that I was thinking law school. Justin had also just graduated and had the same plans to attend BSU but hadn't yet moved to Boise. He called me one night to talk.

I don't remember what we were discussing, I don't think it was anything important or even very serious. I was sitting on my bed, listening to his voice and suddenly I had a...let's call it a vision- of us married, living together, and me making a home with him. I suddenly pictured Sunday dinners and late night talks and even menial tasks like laundry, all with him. And what took my breath away was that those thoughts made me feel so happy and excited and at peace.

I waited a few minutes until a break in the conversation and said to Justin,

"So, I think we should get married."

He didn't miss a beat with his response:

"Okay."

He told me later that he didn't really believe me when I said this. He'd proposed to me at least three times before this conversation, had wanted to marry me for quite awhile and had made that clear. But I'd always hesitated. Always put him off or said yes and then changed my mind.

But suddenly, for whatever reason, my vision had cleared and my future came into focus- a future with him. Suddenly whatever plans I'd had before took a backseat. Maybe they'd happen, maybe they wouldn't. But I knew that there was one thing that had to become a reality: I had to be with him for the rest of my life.

We started planning. Justin started to believe that it was really happening when we sent out invitations. Three months later on a very cold day in November we were married.

Law school didn't happen.

I learned to cook.

It's been just as wonderful as I imagined.

I love you so much Justin

Happy Anniversary.

giving thanks

decorations going to Wendell with us today for my Mom's thanksgiving table

I am thankful.

-for spontaneous tea parties in our big bed with a cute little blonde girl named Audrey.

-for logging on to my blog this morning and finding a lovely surprise. Check out the post below.

-for a husband who is my best friend. Who works hard, worries about us, listens to my thoughts and opinions, plans for our future, and makes awesome french toast.

-for a sweet, tiny baby who will be making his grand entrance into our family soon, and the chance to be the one to carry him these past 8 1/2 months.

-when I hear Justin sing under his breath as he walks around the house, he only does it when he's happy.

-for our great families who continually surprises us with their strength and support, their generosity and love.

-for my Mom's pumpkin pie. (and all the rest of her cooking)

-for nights when Justin and I go to bed and then stay up another hour or more talking and laughing, and telling each other to be quiet because we're going to wake up Audrey.

-for changing leaves, falling snow, bright sunlight and quiet evenings.

-for the moments when Audrey randomly looks up from her coloring book, or her baby doll, or her blocks and says "momma, I love you."

-in short: my husband, my children, my family, my faith, my circumstances
my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

channeling her inner June Cleaver

At our house we always wash the dishes wearing a poofy princess dress and pearls.

Don't you?

Happy Birthday Ariane!

I don't normally do birthday posts on my blog (except for Justin and Audrey) but Ariane wrote a really sweet post about me for my birthday, so I thought I'd reciprocate.

First of all, Ari, how cute do you look in this picture? Awww.
(That's right, my birthday tributes come with mild embarrassment)

Secondly, in writing this post I thought maybe I'd explain the stories behind all the "inside jokes" that you listed in your birthday blog to me. In fact, I came up with a few more ("big pimpin, spending cheese" and you witnessing my first kiss with Justin) but, as I make it a rule to never embarrass myself on my own blog, most of those stories will never, EVER, see the light of day.

I will forever be indebted to you for helping your cute brother ask me out that day at Papa Kelseys, and I'm so glad that by marrying him I get to hang out with my good friend- who always laughed so hard and then sighed afterward really hilariously and got us all laughing again- for the rest of my life.

Happy Birthday!

sometimes I'm a little afraid...

-that this baby won't be as darling and adorable as Audrey. I mean, really, look at her.

-that my water will break while I'm out in public.

-that I'll swear or scream or cry like a baby or something equally as embarrassing while I'm in labor.

-that Justin will leave me for a more desirable woman- you know, like a woman who can actually reach down and shave her legs or clip her toenails.

-that Audrey won't like her new baby brother.

-that this annoying nausea will never, ever be completely gone.

-that people at church will start to notice that I've been wearing the same dress every single Sunday. So far I'm hoping that the different colored cardigans I've been wearing over it are throwing them off.

-that nursing will totally throw me for a loop and I won't be able to figure out nursing bras and schedules and a hungry baby and a blanket over my shoulder, and that in order to feed my baby I will have to live like a hermit in my house until he is weaned.

-that I will go into labor when my house is filthy and whoever comes over while I'm in the hospital will be shocked and horrified at the state of my bathrooms. You better believe that if this happens I will be scrubbing toilets through my contractions. I will.

the state of things

"It's a bish Mom!" (bish=fish)

she: princess pajamas and fluffy, ratty hair, runny nose, crusty eyes, a cough that keeps both of us up at night. Still bright and happy during the day despite my nose wiping efforts, begs to go outside even though she is sick, coloring lots of pictures, pretending to be a kitty, watching princess movies.

he: sweater vests over shirts and ties, going in to work early, sells like crazy. Learning the guitar, takes care of anything his wife asks him to. Plays hide and seek with Audrey ("you find me Dad!") attends planning meetings for his calling, gets excited about BYU football, misses eating Mexican food, wishes his wife didn't throw up at the thought of a taco.

me: maternity pants and any shirt that still covers my belly (options are limited). swollen feet, swollen hands, large tight belly that gets in the way when I try to wash dishes, make dinner or type at the computer. Craving chinese food, sleeping badly, nervous/excited to meet this baby, making lots of lists with the title "to do before baby comes" then wishing I had the energy to accomplish anything.

family picture outtakes

oh my, that is one big pregnant woman:

our attempts at some sort of maternity pose

where first Audrey jumped into the picture:

and then Justin:
(his faces in these pictures are hilarious- oh, he makes me laugh)

obviously.

VIP Family Pictures 2010

I have been determined to get some family photos before the baby comes- one last memorial to the time when it was just the three of us. So last weekend while we were visiting our families for Halloween I asked my sister to snap a few. Even though it made our day super busy, I'm so glad we took the time to get these. Thanks so much Beth!