Is it Me?

Is it just me, or is the baby ticker at the top of my blog going BACKWARDS? Ugh, I swear...every week that it goes down, somehow it feels like it's going UP to me! I feel like 5 weeks left sounds longer to me than 15 weeks used to sound!!! I'm trying not to be impatient, but I'm so ready to meet this baby and have my body back. I'm ready to not have heartburn, nausea, to be able to actually breathe & bend-over, to get my pants on w/o almost falling over, to go somewhere without EVERYONE at EVERY place I go asking how much longer and then being SHOCKED at how much longer, to walk normal, to not feel HUGE, and just to be on track to someday feel like ME again. The sacrifice is worth it and we are SO excited to invite this little one into our family, but..........anyway, you get the picture that I'm sick of being pregnant.

"How to Keep a Healthy Level of Insanity"

I have always gotten a kick out of lists like this "How to Keep a Healthy Level of Insanity". Just visualizing them is funny enough...but I'm sure DOING them is even better. Enjoy...

1. At lunch time sit in your parked car with sunglasses and point a hair dryer at passing cars.
2. Page yourself over the intercom. Dont disguise your voice.
3. Everytime someone asks you to do something ask if they want fries with that.
4. Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "in".
5. Put decaff in the coffee maker for 3 weeks then switch to esepresso.
6. In the memo field of your check write "for sexual favors"
7. Finish your sentences with "in accordance with prophesy"
8. Don't use any punctuation marks.
9. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
10. Ask people what sex they are...then when they answer laugh.
11. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go".
12. Sing along at the opera.
13. Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
14. Put misquito netting around your work area. Play a tape of jungle music.
15. Five days in advance tell your friends you can't attend their party because your not in the mood.
16. Have your coworker address you by your wrestling name 'rock hard kim'.
17. When the money comes out at the ATM scream "I WON, I WON, thats the 3rd time this week".
18. When leaving the zoo start running towards the parking lot yelling "run for your lives they're loose"
19. Tell your children over dinner "due tothe economy we are going to have to let one of you go".

ELIZA!!

ELIZA is officially linked with Tiffany!!!!!!! Check out her blog for pictures and the lastest info: http://eliza2006.blogspot.com/. She is so cute!!! Born Feb 20th, so at the moment she is 7 months old. Tiffany should get to be with her in about 6 weeks!!!! HOOORRRRAAYYYY! This moment is long overdue :-) Congrats Tiff!

What a Day!

Tiffany's Referral: Any moment today or tomorow we should find out little Eliza's age, given name and birthdate!!! Tiffany's long awaited day is here!!!!!!! We are counting down the minutes. I will post the exciting news as it comes...
*Update* Looks like the referral won't come until tomorrow. We're still counting down the minutes though!!!


Happy Birthday Katie!: Today Katie is crossing a bridge....she is 30 years old!!! Hooray! Congrats Katie! You should be proud of ever year and accomplishment of that 30 years! Have a wonderful day!!!! *Here's to 20 years of friendship*!



Mickey's Magic Show: Saturday, my mom treated Lindy, myself and our kids to Mickey's Magic Show - which was great and the kids LOVED every second of it! We went to Chili's (where else?) afterwards. Thanks mom for a fun day!!!







Piano Lessons: Today is Jordyn's second piano lesson. She loves it! I'm a little afraid of the commitment to practice...it's a big responsibility and she has a homework sheet to fill out. But as long as she LOVES it, it makes it worth it.

My Girls

Even though I wish I could hibernate from the entire world for the next 5 1/2 weeks...and aside from all the moodiness, stress and exhaustion I feel right now, I have to say that I sure love these girls. At this point in my life, they really are my world. They bring so much life and sparkle to everything. I love seeing things through their eyes. They are so loving and so eager to learn. I'm constantly amazed at how unprepared new parents are for the HUGE life-changing experience of having children (speaking from my experience!). I don't think there is any way to ever fully prepare for it. But in what seems like an instant, my life went from 100% mine to maybe 1% mine. Not in a negative way, but raising babies, toddlers, children, teenagers...whatever they are at the time...is the most physically and emotionally draining task possible! But woven throughout the journey are so many rewards and smiles and hugs and tears of joy and LOTS of learning about yourself that somehow it makes it all worth it. God is smart, huh? I've always got to remind myself that this is all part of a MUCH bigger plan...a plan that HE sees in entirety whereas I see a itsy bitsy portion of and so I can really get stuck by the frustration of a phase/moment/situation. So, I'm thankful for the moments when I am washed over by gratitude.

Livin on a Prayer

This morning I was driving by myself (which is unusual) so I had the radio on a station that I like and I got so excited when I heard the familiar beat of Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer". Oh my gosh, a flood of memories dating back to third grade came rushing into my mind! I rode the bus home from school that year and every day would just cross my fingers that the popular station B95 would play "Livin on a Prayer". As a little 7/8 year old, I loved that song...and now almost 22 years later I STILL love that song just as much! I remember my friend gave me the Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi tape for my 8th birthday and my mom made me get rid of it. Understandably, but I've often thought of this and realized that kids have tastes and opinions that are real at a very young age. I have about a thousand other songs with memories tied to them that I could also blog about, but this one is definitely STILL near the top of my list all these many years later!

If you want to listen to it....
http://www.bestaudiocodes.com/bac/B/Bon_Jovi/Livin_On_A_Prayer.php

Happy 32nd Anniversary!

Today is my parents 32nd Anniversary. Impressive! Their road hasn't always been smooth and there have been many challenges to endure. But I'm thankful to them for hanging in there and for working hard to provide for us 5 kids opportunities they didn't have growing up. Each year that I get older, I understand a little bit more of the sacrafices they've made for us. Parenthood is complete selflessness - especially apparent as I watch them STILL parenting teenagers. Thanks Mom & Dad! I love you and Happy Anniversary!

Potty Story

*Warning, may be TMI!*

Tonight Lexi and I were outside - she was riding her bike and I was on the porch swing (Tucker had Jordyn at her first piano lessons - which she loved, by the way). Anyway, Lexi said she wanted to go inside and put on her swimsuit (for no reason, she changes clothes 4/5 times per day). *Seriously, what comes next is NOT exaggerated!* So, it had been at the MOST three minutes and I heard her calling me. So I went in, figuring she needed help wiping..............and BOY did she EVER!!! What I saw when I walked in the bathroom didn't see humanly possible in that short of time. She had poop spread ALL OVER both legs, the entire toilet bowl, the floor and her bottom. I mean, I still can't figure out what happened and HOW it happened so fast! Oh my gosh, it was so gross. So she went straight in the tub and I disinfected the entire bathroom. All I could think as I was - yet again - scrubbing the bathroom floor, was all the things that can (and will) transpire when the baby is nursing or crying, etc! Lots of fun and excitement in store for us, huh?!

By the way, if it crossed your mind that I look big in the pics below, I AM. On friday, I was 33 weeks and I measured 5 weeks big at 38 weeks! No wonder I feel SO ready to be done! Could be big baby, could be extra fluid...we'll find out more at the next appt.

Our Weekend

We had a great weekend. I think I'm paying for it because I'm so sore, tired and uncomfortable today (I feel like I'm functioning with my personal battery at about 10%)! We had a spur of the moment night out to dinner with my parents on Friday. We haven't done that for long time and it was fun!

(Sorry Mom, I didn't get your 'approval' before posting this pic! Ha!)

Then Saturday we worked in the yard a TON, taking advantage of the 70's degrees weather. And that night had a BBQ with friends in the ward.

Me and my wonderful patient husband who never (outwardly) complains about how patient he is with me and all my pregnancy moods.

My friend Beth and I - who has been a sanity saver this pregnancy because she's feeling everything I feel so we never feel bad about discussing our woes!

Jordyn and Lexi with their close buddies!

And finally, yesterday at church was primary program practice (which is stressful if you're in the primary presidency) and then in the afternoon we were able to go to some other friends' home for dinner. To top the night off, my sis Lindy was "nice" enough to drop off a white cake with homemade chocolate frosting at 10:00 pm for us. Don't think we didn't have some right before bed!!! Evil.

Vinyl Lettering

I'm really into vinyl lettering. I love it for wood boards, clocks, tile sayings, wall sayings....etc. I finally found great site to order this type of lettering! It's got everything you could want (in any font) for really good prices. This pic is an example of what I mean. Above our drapes in our bedroom, Tucker and I put this vinyl lettering quote. It looks like hand stenciling, but it goes on in 2 seconds!! This particular phrase was about $7. (If you can't see it well, it says "Together, Forever, Sealed with Love")
Here's the website: www.iasign.com

Cute Kid Thoughts

I have to jot this thought down before it jumps out of my brain. Lexi is a mature 2 year old...but luckily still says some things funny and cute, just as a 2 year old should do. So, tonight as I was putting her to bed, I said "oh, wait, your blanket's in the dryer" and before I knew it she was standing on a box peering into the washer (she gets the washer and dryer confused). I said "it's right here Lex" as I grabbed it out of the dryer and she laughed "oh mommy, why was it in the dry-wash?". It was also VERY hot, having just come out of the dryer and she kept saying "Ohh, it's so cold!". She makes me laugh. Then I proceeded to kiss her goodnight, and asked if I could bite her cheek and she very matter-of-factly said "No, mommy, I'm not food!". Just very cute. She was also really cute today at dance class when I looked up and she was naked in the bathroom with pee EVERYWHERE and I was on my hands and knees (with a HUGE pregnant belly) scrubbing the floor of the bathroom and then proceeded to walk down the street to my car with a butt-naked child! (said with much sarcasm). I really do love her a ton!

I also have to add that I am thankful that I've had a bit more patience the last couple days with my kids (this pregnancy is really taking it out of me). Maybe it's my new hair cut! Ha ha. But seriously, either they've been acting a little better and THAT'S made me have more patience, OR I've been more patient SO they've been better. I have a feeling it's the latter. I've just started to explain to them more of WHY I need them to listen. Like..."Please hurry and get out of the tub (as I'm standing there with a towel and have asked 15 times with my voice disappearing into thin air) BECAUSE the baby is SOOOO big and is making mommy hurt. I need you to get out so I can sit down!". For some reason, including the baby in my reasoning has helped a little, so I'll just do what works!

Am I a Little Bit Crazy?

*warning - Carly - this post may be hazardous to your professional health!!

Yes, I think I am a little bit crazy. (But, Mom, I know you'll understand!!) So, here's the deal. I've been growing my hair for nearly two years. Why? Just for fun. It's gotten pretty long lately and of course the bug to cut my hair short has been biting me for a while. Once it bites, it's really hard for me to forget about it. And I tend to be somewhat impusive when I want something...I want it NOW. My hairstylist for the past 5 years or more has been my sister Carly. But when she informed me I may not see her till Christmas, I thought..."CHRISTMAS is lightyears away!!! I can't wait that long for my cut & color! I'll just have to take matters into my own hands!".

And tonight I did just that.

I went into the bathroom, put my long hair into a ponytail, and chopped it off! Then I did my best to straighten up the layers...and to the untrained eye, it looks pretty decent. If Carly combed through it she'd probably be horrified! (you can straighten it up at Christmas, Car!).

Lastly, it wasn't quite complete without some new highlights. I hate seeing the regrowth. So I added a couple foils of highlights. And now I can sleep well tonight...(I told you I'm a little bit crazy). Some pics below...

Pictures of Haircut

Here are some pics...

Before ...................................................................














After the Cut......................................................

After Highlights ............................................

Jordyn's Piano Lessons

So, we've decided to try something new with Jordyn. It seems a little extreme initially, but we really feel like it's worth a try. It's piano lessons through the Yamaha Music Education program. It's one hour per week. This is actually a program that goes from ages 4-12 (if you want it to). The first two years are a parent/child interactive group class. It feels like a big commitment, but also after researching it, feels worth a shot. Jordyn loves music and has had an extra interest in piano. I've started teaching her at home with a beginner book, and she just soaks it up. Anyway, I figure we can give her the chance and if she loves it GREAT. If not, she can pick another area of interest. We start next week! Here's a brief description of the course, from this article click here:

************************************************************

The Yamaha Junior Music Course curriculum (worldwide program since the 1950's) is broad compared to typical private piano lessons. Children sing solfege, play the keyboard, sing songs with lyrics, move to music, play rhythm and keyboard ensembles and participate in "music appreciation" activities

The method assumes music is a language children can learn naturally in the same way they learn their spoken and written language: we hear, we imitate, we speak and we read.

The aural awareness of four- and five-year-olds is more developed than their manual dexterity and visual skills. Therefore, the Yamaha approach for this age group focuses on aural training versus emphasizing piano technique and reading.

By the end of two years in JMC, students have built a substantial vocabulary of solfege, having sung 50 melodies and numerous chord progressions using the I, IV and V7 chords in the keys of C major, G major, F major, D minor and A minor. Aside from developing musicianship, these solfege experiences prepare children to play in these five keys.

Sugar Cookies!

I thought I'd be a "fun" mom tonight and make sugar cookies for the girls to frost. It was a success...they did have fun! And a lot of sugar! They picked pink and purple for the frosting colors (yes, they are girly-girls)...and Lexi ate a whole bottle of sprinkles.

The question is...why do I make desserts that I love?? I LOVE sugar cookies with frosting and now I have a few platefuls I need to take somewhere - besides my stomach!!

Lovesac!

Tucker has wanted a Lovesac since our original one busted back when we were first married. They are huge and expensive, so we haven't splurged thus far. Until today! I was at Costco and they had a few that were out of the box, so they were really discounted ($250 instead of $500). Although I wasn't planning on that big of a purchase today, I couldn't pass up the deal...especially knowing how excited Tucker would be! It's a 6 ft Supersac and takes up our WHOLE living room!!! Where oh where to put it???? The cover is actually a tan microsuede, but it zips off so you can wash it (which I'm doing) so this is a pic of just the inside bag. If you've never checked out Lovesacs, click here. Tucker's friend from college started the company and our first Lovesac was one of their first prototypes. They've come a long way since then!

Restless Leg Syndrome

So when Tiffany was here I happened to randomly mention to her, "I have this really annoying feeling in my legs when I'm sitting...like I HAVE to move them". And immediately she said "I know what that is! It's called Restless Leg Syndrome". I was a bit surprised at her immediate diagnosis, but once we got online and researched it, it seemed to fit the bill! It's been bugging me, but I never would have thought it was an actual thing! It seems to be yet another fun pregnancy side-effect. But I guess it can get pretty bad for some people who get it permanently who aren't pregnant. So at least I know mine will go away eventually! Here's a description of it:

• You have a strong urge to move your legs. The need to move is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations, which include:creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging or gnawing.
• Your symptoms start or become worse when you are resting.
• Your RLS symptoms get better when you move your legs. The relief can be complete or only partial but generally starts very soon after starting an activity.

Grape Harvest

Last week, Tucker had the chance to do some manual labor in the grape vineyards! Our church has vineyards specifically for church welfare use, and they have the local wards give service to prune, harvest and roll the grapes that will eventually become raisins. It's hard work, but can be satisfying at the same time. I've gone the past few years, but decided I had a good excuse not to spend hours bent below a grapevine this year ;-)

Little Getaway

My friend Tiffany and I have been friends for about eight years...ever since the good ol' days back at BYU-Hawaii. She is one of my favorite people in the world and I was so happy that she had the spontaneous idea to fly in to visit me this weekend (love those Delta web fares!). We decided to take off to the coast for a night (without kids) and just have a little relaxing getaway. It was much needed by both of us! We stayed in Cambria, then the next day hung out mostly in Morro Bay. We ate and relaxed and enjoyed the crisp ocean air. It was just perfect and just what I needed. Thanks, Tucker, for taking such good care of the girls while we were gone :-)

Do I Really HAVE to Keep Getting Bigger??

Here's me when I was 18 weeks along. I felt so big and uncomfortable! It looks like a size 2 compared to how I feel NOW!

Here's me now, at 31 weeks. I have really noticed it in my face and legs...more allover weightgain lately. I'm getting so anxious to NOT be HUGE anymore!

Need Veggie Tales, Anyone?

My mom is so great and just really loves to dote on her grandkids. She almost becomes like a little kid with them and gets excited about their interests and phases. A little example: The world of Veggie Tales is somewhat new to my family. But once she discovered that the kids like them, she thought they ought to have plenty to choose from! She bought us a few DVDs from the store initially, and then for the past few days we've received a package in the mail for the "Maxfield Girls" from Amazon everyday with another new Veggie Tales DVD! Apparently my sisters have also had these fun surprises in their mailboxes. Now we have our own library of Veggie Tales, so if anyone needs to check out a copy, let me know! Thanks Mom, you're awesome! :-)