Speechless

For those that know me well, they probably know that me being speechless doesn't really happen. Ever.

To illustrate this point, my mother would refer to people that were talking endlessly (in perhaps not the most PC way) as suffering from "Diarrhea of the Mouth."

Out of all of her children, I seemed to suffer from this particular condition most frequently and unfortunately have never fully recovered. In fact, it may have even gotten worse over the years.

However, about a week ago my dear optometry student of a husband created a moment in time when I was actually speechless. Since this is such a rarity, I felt it was note worthy even if it is a rather uneventful story. :)

At this point I would like to mention that Wesley is amazing. He also happens to be amazingly fascinated with the eye and all the things that comes with it.

The Story:

Once upon a week ago, I walked into our bathroom which requires walking through our bedroom where Wesley was watching television with the kids. (It was probably OPB or the news, his favorite things to watch).

Anyways, I opened up the medicine cabinet and was very surprised at what I found.

The conversation (as I remember it).

Me: Wesley you are in big trouble! (I feel pretty confident that I used a tone that shows I was trying to be playful rather than serious).

Which Novalee caught onto right away.

Novalee: Ya, you are in big BIG Mommy trouble! (She's adorable).

Wesley: What did I do?

Me: You're in big Big trouble. (Once again, trying to be funny)

Well as it turns out, the kids were able to read my tone but Wes obviously wasn't because later when I was again in the bathroom, Wes came in and apologized for watching TV. :) Which totally made me laugh out loud.

Me: Seriously, I wasn't being serious. And seriously that wasn't it, let me show you something...



(Please note that in this photo, there are, count them, five contact lens cases, two bottles of contact lens cleaner and two cases of glasses).

Me: Seriously do we really need to keep all of those empty contact lens cases? Can't we throw some of them out?

His response...

I think that all of them have contact lenses in them.

Me: (Surprised and baffled) What, why?

Then this following statement which created the moment of speechlessness.

Wesley: Well, because they are all different types of lenses and I'm trying out which ones I like the best.

What? I have never heard of such a thing. I had nothing to say and could only muster out nervous laughter as I left the bathroom.

What was I supposed to say? The only thing that came to my mind was, "That is crazy, who has five pairs of contact lenses in use as one time." But you can't say that, and you can't ask him to throw a few pairs away, not only would that be wasteful but the eye and contact lenses are kind of a hobby of his. And so speechless I was. :)

10 things I hate and 10 things I love about being pregnant

Since about week 8 this subject has been on my mind. At that point the "10 things I hate" about being pregnant were very clear. Now that I'm a little further along I have more things to write about that I enjoy. So here are the two lists. They are ranking in no particular order.

10 Things I Hate:

1. I hated being absolutely exhausted everyday from week 7 until week 14. It was like being a zombie everyday. And for some unknown reason being strangely unable to sleep at night.

2. I hate being so emotional. There have been some serious moments when Wes could have been thinking that I might be going crazy. One time in particular when there were tears and laughter at the same time. Crying because I felt so strange and weird to be crying over something so silly and laughing because it was so crazy to be crying. Poor Wes was so confused.

3. I hate getting fat and also having the knowledge from already having two kids that it's not just the baby getting bigger. I hate knowing that no matter how many times someone will reassure you that it is just baby weight, they are seriously lying to you. :)

4. I hate maternity pants. Seriously could they possibly make something less sexy? No matter what style, belly band, low waist band or no band, you always end up with saggy, frumpy bottom.

5. I don't hate this but I have noticed this. Since it's more of a negative than a positive I feel it belongs on this list...an increase in the amount of toilet paper you have to purchase on a monthly basis...which leads to my next point...

6. I hate having to use the bathroom like a billion times a day. Seriously what a waste of time! In the book Cheaper by the Dozen the father calls such times, "unavoidable delays" and I completely agree.

7. I hated that for the first trimester or even longer most women including me, feel like you are extremely sensitive to motion sickness AND you have been stuck on a small boat out in the middle of the ocean during a storm for the last three months.
Not to mention that this already sensitive girl happened to go to Avatar in 3D, which after the first 15 minutes, in order not to puke on the person in front of her, had to close one eye like a pirate for the duration of the movie.

8. I hate that when I bend over I have to spread my legs super far apart or else I bump into my own girth. It is the weirdest feeling when you start to feel your stomach against your thighs when you are sitting down. At least it is for me.

9. I hate having to go bra shopping...anytime. Pregnancy is an especially annoying time when you have to go several times.

10. This one might be my top hated thing about pregnancy. I hate OB/GYN visits towards the end of your pregnancy. When you have to go in every week to "check" your progress. I don't care how comfortable you feel with your doctor, it's awkward!

Wow, so many negative things! I had better end on a positive note.


10 Things I love:


1. I love the exciting moment when you find out that your suspicions that you might be pregnant are correct!

2. I love being able to get seconds and even thirds when eating and have people reassure me that it is totally fine since "I'm eating for two." Kind of a joke since you really only need like 300 extra calories a day when you are pregnant but hey, the excuse seems to be working and my sweet craving isn't complaining. I do however dislike it when your doctor recommends that you might want to slow down on the weight gain "since you still have so far to go," which has sadly happened to me in the past.

3. I know I said I hate maternity pants and I absolutely do. But I do love maternity tops. Especially the super cute ones that I totally can't afford to buy but I can afford to admire.

4. I love the first moments when I start feeling the baby move and I actually know it's the baby.

5. I loved the first four months when the baby bump wasn't too noticable but I was able to enjoy a curvier body. When you're normally flat front and back and side to side, it's nice to have moments when you actually look like you went through puberty. In my case I can only say, thank goodness for pregnancy.

6. I love baby supply shopping! Either you are totally like me and get this...or you're not and you don't. :)

7. I love having moments when I can just daydream about how life will be like with a new little baby in our lives. To be able to think about how she will look and what she will be like. To think about the special spirit that enters into the home with a newborn.

8. I know this is wrong but I absolutely love the idea that my husband has no idea what he has gotten himself into. In some ways I think it will be cute to get to watch him respond to poopy diapers and sleepless nights. (Which let it be known, that Wes did agree to change all the diapers on weekdays when he is home and 50% of the diapers on the weekend. While I'm not sure either of us know how we reached that agreement I'm pretty sure he already regrets saying it.)

9. I love that my other two kids are so excited about our little baby. I love that my thoughtful Jared reminds me to be careful when I'm exercising and asks me on a regular basis when baby is coming and I love that Novalee has started putting her baby dolls to bed with her so that she can practice taking care of a baby.

10. I love that soon enough I will get to look at and hold another blessing from my Heavenly Father.

"She's Crafty"

We only get a select number of television channels with our rabbit ears. One of which has a show called "she's Crafty." The lady on the show seems to always be making things on a budget. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen something she's made and thought it was anything special.

But now, for whatever reason, every time I make something the saying "She's Crafty" pops into my head.

Since I don't have my own television show, I thought I would post my most recent creations...


Project Number 1.

My kids are always throwing stuff on the floor of my car. It always looks disgusting inside and well, outside too, which they really don't have a hand in. But I thought I would at least solve the inside dilemma and make car seat toy holders for both Jared and Novalee.

Wes predicted that it wouldn't help and stuff would still just end up all over the floor. But as my first potential pattern ever completed, I was determined to finish them. Here's how they turned out.



After finishing the project I immediately threw the pattern away. Patterns are nightmares. And sadly Wesley's prediction was correct. However, a lady yesterday asked me where she could get one and I proudly told her I had made them. Which was an ego boost.

Project Number 2:

My sister recently showed me how to make decorative hair clips which I immediately went overboard with. All of a sudden we went from having a few clips for Novalee to too, too many.

My sister also has a really cool hair clip holder for her daughter that she made from ribbon. So using left over fabric from the car seat toy holder I made this...



The flower on the top un-Velcros so you can move it anywhere you want. :)


Project Number 3. Quilts.

A while ago I went to a ball with Wes. Since then I have had this dress taking up space in our closet, driving me nuts...



So one day I took my seam ripper and tore apart my dress. With the scraps I made these:







And this one is out of scraps of fabric I had from previous quilts I made and the black square table cloths from our wedding reception...





Project Number 4. Embracing Childhood Girly

I don't know what is wrong with me but for some reason ever since we found out we were having another girl, I've gone totally girly. Not that I've given up my competitive, " I Love sports" nature. I just love girl things. Mostly and luckily I get to live a little bit through Novalee and watch her love everything pink, purple and girly...which I probably shamelessly encourage.

Anyways, one day I decided to clean out under my bed and I found all the tulle from our wedding. So I decided to try and make Novalee a princess canopy for her bed. So for $2.50, I ended up with this...



At some point I'm going to change out the ribbon bow on top for something better. But that "some point" might be a long time from now...

My Best Mother's Day

Mother's Day started a few days before Sunday. One night Jared told me that him and Wes were going to go shopping the next night. In his nervous laughter he said, "We are going to get food, ya, that's it. Haha, ya we are going to go to the grocery store, haha, in case we run out of food, ya." It was so funny. The next night, they went "grocery" shopping.

On Saturday night I was asked by my dear husband when I would like to wake up to have breakfast. Really? I have an option, its not just when the kids come pile into our bed?

Sunday I woke up to the sounds of my husband and the kids whispering in the kitchen together. The kids were so excited! So when they got close to my door I pretended to be asleep and they came in with a tray of food. (At this point I have to note that it was bacon, sausage, eggs with cheese, blueberries, raspberries, a banana and Orange Juice. Only because someone in my ward joked that it was probably Cheerios.) While it would have been nice to eat it in bed, the kids offered to keep me company and eat their food in the bed with me so I suggested we all just go out to the table.



Then came the gifts. I'm not entirely sure mothers on Mother's Day get gifts but it's probably okay that my husband doesn't know.

My kids got to bring me the gifts. They were so cute!

First I got house slippers. Which I desperately needed. I lately have been stealing Wesley's because my old ones were so gross. (Note to others: house slippers should probably only be worn in the house and not outside in the rain).



I think he finally got tired of it. :) Which worked out well for me.



Then there came a camera. Yes, a camera! I felt pretty lucky, especially since mine decided to quite on me the week before.



But it started working again one day before Mother's day but no one's complaining. Now I just have two cameras. (Not that I'm going to become a collector).

Mother's Day is such a special day and I already felt so loved. But just to make sure I stood out from all the other mothers being celebrated on this special day my family got my a corsage to wear. I loved it! I guess Wes' family always got one for their mother on Mother's day. I have to say I think it is a great tradition.



And to top it all off, my kids were on their best behavior all day long. Even though Jared told me he didn't want to sing with the Primary kids to their mothers at church, when it came down to it he did. He walked up there very calmly and with his arms folded, looked right at me, smiled the whole time and sang "Mother I Love You." At that moment I was filled with so much joy. I even did what I figured a sensible woman would never do over something so simple and I teared up. Being a Mother is the best thing and it seems to just get better all the time.

I should also add some cute photos of the kids at my Mom's house with their cousins on Mother's day.

Jared's Bike Rodeo

I realize that I just posted about Jared's preschool and here I am doing it again. I promise our blog won't be only about preschool but a Bike Rodeo is too cool not to write about. They are so cute!







Here the teacher is reminding the kids about street signs and what they mean, which is what they were studying that week.



Just some great shots of Jared and Novalee riding their bikes and having fun.








Jared just started getting really confident riding his bike without training wheels a few months ago and now biking seems to be all he ever wants to do. He loves showing us his "new moves" as he calls them. As a parent it is so great to see your kids growing up and reaching new heights.

OMSI

At the start of this year Jared started going to Calvary Lutheran Preschool. I have to admit that at first I was a little concerned about him going to a Lutheran preschool since we are LDS but so far it has been so great! After spending some time there I felt certain that it would be the best fit for Jared and if anything I have only grown to love the school more. Jared comes home talking about all the great friends he has and is so excited about learning. I would recommend the school to anyone. His teacher has old fashioned values and is firm but at the same time is so good and kind to all the kids.

I have no idea how they are able to afford so many projects and crafts on the little tuition they charge but so far since the beginning of this year they have hatched chicken eggs, had an easter egg hunt, built trains and boats, and made dinosaur fossils. It has been a great experience.

Two Friday's ago, the preschool took a field trip to OMSI. Really? A field trip in preschool. Did I mention I think this school is awesome?




Novalee being an little scientist.



This is a pretty neat exhibit of a woman's body. I would like to point out however, that the boys in the background are more excited about the fact that her breasts light up when you push a button than anything else about her anatomy. They kept on pushing the light button over and over again. Dirty boys.



It's another beautiful day in Portland!



At the water table...



where our trip came to an abrupt end when little Miss Novalee with a full bladder added more than just water to the water table. But it was fun while it lasted.

Starting a Blog

Well I finally decided that it's time to have a blog. I have so many pictures that I want to share of my little family and believe it or not we actually do fun things every now and again.

However starting a blog, at least for me, is not as easy as the website makes it out to be. So far I have a title (and I don't even like how that looks) and a picture...It's been about an hour. I guess we will see how this goes...