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:

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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! :-)

How Things Change

Wow, I found this old pic on my computer today. It was 2 1/2 years ago, when Lexi was maybe 8 weeks old? I really had two babies, but didn't realize it at the time. I thought Jordyn was so mature! Anyway, it's just fun to look back at how much they have merged and become best friends. As much as their arguing can drive me up a huge wall, I am grateful that they have eachother and hope they always stay close like they are now. It's also strange to look back at baby pictures and realize that we're getting ready to do it all AGAIN! Wow!

Baby Blankets

My sister-in-laws are so nice and they both made us blankets for the baby:

Lynda Ann made us a perfect University of Utah one! You see, Tucker's family is sort of divided down the middle - half BYU fans and half UofU. So this was VERY nice of Annie (a BYU fan) to make us a UofU blanket! We love it!

And Maren's is just as perfect. Hawaiian flowers AND purple? Who could ask for more? These silky edges are the best way to fancy-up a fleece blanket and it looks just beautiful! Thanks Maren!

Magic Answer?

Does anyone have a magic potion or answer to helping me survive the next 9 weeks....and then the first three or so months of the baby's life? Seriously, lately, I just feel like I can't balance it all! Life requires more than I feel like I have. I'm running on a depleted energy bank. It must be very tied to my physically-way-less-than-par status because things do not usually overwhelm me as much as they have been lately. Whether it be cleaning my house, or doing my church duties, or telling my kids not to (constantly) fight, cut their hair, draw on the walls, talk rudely to me, or getting them to actually get dressed, eat and get out the door ON TIME.....ugh. Sorry, I'm just a big complainer lately. If I were objectively talking to someone like me, I'd simply think "just hang in there, 9 more weeks and you're body will start to feel somewhat normal, etc", but at this point that does NOT help me to think that. It's amazing how life can feel all jumbled and hard even when nothing is really actually WRONG, you know?

Anyway, thanks for listening. Oh, and email me if you have that magic potion or answer! :-)

In Case You're in the Market for a Frog...

...I just thought I'd warn you of their potential lifespan!! We have a few African Dwarf Frogs (tiny water frogs) that Tucker bought (for some unknown reason) over THREE years ago! I was like "fine, okay, how long can they really live?" - we'd had fish before and the never seemed to make it much more than 6-8 months. Well, these suckers have lived for WAY longer than we'd hoped (not to be rude) and the fun has worn off! Getting Tucker to clean out their bowl is worse than coaxing a kid to take care of their pet! Well, I just read that these frogs have the potential to live for a ridiculously long time! One guys said he had his for 18 years! We just can't quite get ourselves to "dispose" of them. Maybe there's a young kid at church that'd love 'em, huh?

Pre-School

Today was Jordyn's first day of pre-school! She has been so excited for this. A few of her close friends, as well as her cousin Alyson, just started kindergarten, so she's been looking forward to starting her "school" too. She goes two days per week from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. I think it will be a fun social/learning time for her...and a break for mommy from the sibling rivalry!! Lexi, however, was not so keen on the idea of not getting to stay and play there. She and Jordyn are so close in age that they're used to doing most of the same things. So I'll have to come up with some special Mommy-Lexi time while Jordyn's away.

Each transition of parenthood has had its own unique surprises and challenges! The phase I'm starting to enter is much more structured than the phase I've been in for the past four years. Deadlines and timeframes! And I'm sure adding child #3 will bring on a whole new world of it's own. Speaking of child #3...I went to the Dr. today and, as I had suspected, she is breech at the moment. My Dr. isn't too worried yet since I've still got a ways to go. But something felt different about this pregnancy because Lexi was head down from like 23 weeks on and this just felt a bit different. Anyway, all is well and fine and we're getting anxious to meet this little one!

Visit to Utah

I've finally "recovered" enough to write about our trip to Utah last week! We spontaneously decided we should go before the baby comes and so we booked reasonably priced airline tickets from LA to SLC on Southwest. Not the most convenient as we live three hours from LAX, but the tickets were like $200 cheaper EACH than from our usual Fresno airport. So we went and had a great time with family and a few friends. It's always hard to fit in everything we WANT to do while we're there (which is only like once a year) and see everyone we want to see (so we're sad if we missed you this trip)! But we did get to see Maren & Greg and Lynda Ann & Jeff's new houses (both quite a ways out west, but opposite sides of the SL Valley) which were very beautiful! Our family has grown so big with so many cousins that it's quite a gathering when we're all together! I love to watch all the kids have so much fun together.

I say "recovered" because as a big pregnant lady, I was more tired than usual on this trip. But the breaking point was our flight home. Our incoming plane was delayed in another state for almost three hours, so we didn't leave the SLC airport until midnight - and after our drive home from LAX, we didn't get home until 5 am. We were SOOOO tired!!! Don't you just love those "tests" of patience where there's NOTHING you can do to change the situation? So we had a fun 5 hour hang out in the airport that night!

Anyway, thanks to all our family for the fun weekend! Unfortunately, I (who am usually the picture queen) got ONE picture the whole trip. I charged our camera before we left and the battery was mysteriously dead when we arrived :-(. Very sad. This pic is at Maren's house.

Laugh for the Day

I'm not usually big joke forwarder...but I got this one today and it was short and funny, so I had to share :-)

"This incident actually happened at the testimony meeting in March. Our primary president was visiting her sister's ward. A lady came up to the pulpit. She began by telling the congregation what a trying month she and her family had these past few weeks. Her husband had been in a car accident and had bruised his scrotum.

She then continued on, very weepily, for the next ten minutes about how this injury has been affecting their family. "He can't hold the children, he can't hug or cuddle, no intimacy, he'd been so weak, etc . . ." She finally sits down.

Then, to the already shocked and horrified congregation, the husband stands and approaches the pulpit. "I just have one word for my wife," he said, "STERNUM." Then he sat down."

Sugar Overload

Can you tell I've been in a blog-funk lately? But alas, here I am a week later to report on the excitement of my day today (yeah right). I had to do my blood glucose screening today - one of the fun tests done routinely during pregnancy. Anyway, it's pretty gross. I had to go to the lab first thing this morning (without eating, which is hard for me!). They drew blood, then had me down this 10 oz bottle of what is basically REALLY sugary orange soda - on an empty stomach. Then I had to stay at the lab for an hour and they drew my blood again to see how my body metabolized the sugar. Ugh, it is just the yuckiest thing to do first thing in the morning. Don't get me wrong...I'm always up for a bowl of Fruit Loops or Lucky Charms...but (sugar-wise) this was like eating about 5 bowls!

But at least it's one more step and one more test closer to meeting this baby! My sister-in-law Maren just had her third baby (congrats on little Brock - yet another cute red head!) the other day and it's made me begin to contemplate the inevitable....LABOR! It's about now in pregnancy that I begin to realize that there is NO way out of that part! My mom is so sweet and said she is "getting ready" by watching the baby birthing stories on TLC and Discovery Health. I'm glad SHE is because for some reason they freak me out too much right now! Luckily I have a few more months to get to the point where I'd do just about ANYTHING to get the baby out! I guess I'm not quite there yet :-)

Pismo Beach

Yesterday my really good friend Beth and I decided to take a day trip to Pismo Beach. It's around a 2 1/2 hour drive from where we live, but she'd never been there and it had been a while for me so we figured "why not?". So we packed up our four kids, plus the two in-utero (she's three weeks ahead of me) and spent a day at the beach. It was a lot of driving, but the weather was refreshing at 66 degrees and the kids had fun in the sand. We ate clam chowder bowls at Splash cafe (love that place) and enjoyed the ocean breeze. Despite running to the smelly public restrooms a million times for four children and two pregnant women, the day was a lot of fun!

Blog is our Family Journal

Even though I'm sure we can entertain some of you from time to time with some of our blog entries, my number 1 reason for keeping up my blog is to document the little things of our life to keep as a family journal. I try to do my own personal journaling, but lots of this day-to-day type stuff doesn't make it into my own writings. Today I printed off all our blogs thus far (October 2005 to now) and put each page into plastic slip-covers and safely secured them into a binder. My goal is to do this every few months. And even though it hasn't been too long since our first few blog entries, it was already fun to look back at them! Imagine how fun it will be in a few years. I think it is so important to "document" our lives for our posterity. It is amazing how quickly the 'present' becomes 'history' - and is easily forgotten! I love to do this not only through journaling, but video, dvds and photos. Technology today sure makes this possible in all sorts of fun ways!

*by the way, it was a nice relief that Monday came and went w/o a hitch - I was 26 weeks 5 days, which is when Jordyn was born. Hooray! Each day after that point is a (uncomfortable but) cherished day!