The Barber Family

Pride, but just the righteous kind

2012-02-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

Reading blogs can be good and bad. It's good to keep up with friends and find bits of wisdom from great writers. It's fun to read anecdotes from women who've walked where I walk. But blogging can also be detrimental. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of comparisons, and it's definitely easy to fall into the trap of wasting time.
In the last couple days I feel like reading blogs has been helpful in reminding me how blessed I am to have my sweet Andrew. My friend Reianna recently wrote the way she felt about her firstborn learning to ride a bike with no training wheels. I thought she really nailed it in expressing how challenging it can be to watch your child cautiously approach new things, but then how gratifying it is to see them succeed. I also recently discovered a love for Glennon Melton's writing and her blog called Momastery, in which she shared this:

"The earth shakes when the doctor places your firstborn in your arms. Your love for him is colored by terror because you are positive that he is going to die with each passing minute. You bring him home understanding that the Universe has made a mistake, that someone more qualified, more motherly will show up to retrieve him soon. So while you wait, you play house for awhile. You hold him with trembling, clutching, sweaty hands. You still do. You do not trust that he will be able to navigate his world. You eye his doctors, his playmates, his teachers, even his grandparents with great suspicion. Will they be gentle enough with him? He is so sensitive.
What you really mean is: I am so sensitive. I’m like Lazarus, fresh from the tomb, eyes burning from the sun’s brightness. I can’t handle the ferocity and fragility of this new love. Please be careful with us."

There are all kinds of personalities. A lot of times people focus on the ham who is telling jokes and dancing in a crowd of strangers, or the adventurer who takes on the giant twisty slide at a mere 14 months old, but there is so much to be said for the tender soul. The child who is kind to everyone. The child who takes his time and observes before jumping in, partially because he's nervous and partially because he's a thinker and just wants to work out the details in his head.
I guess what I want to say is that as I've watched Andrew taking on new things this week, it's been BOTH of us beaming. On Monday when he pedaled his tricycle all by himself. Yesterday when he decided to go down the slide riding a cooling rack as though it were a toboggan and didn't even cry as he crashed at the bottom. This morning when he marched into my room at 6:55 and declared "I need to sit on the potty!" His diaper was dry and he relieved himself within about 2 minutes. The sky may have still been dark, but our eyes shined brightly as we grinned from ear to ear.
Oh, how I adore my Roo. I know that I love and will love all my children equally. But Andrew will always be the one who made me a mother, and that has a special place in my heart.

There's a first time for everything

2012-01-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty fun day today. First thing this morning Sam climbed in the wagon and Andrew volunteered to push him around. Later on after breakfast Andrew climbed in, so Sam hustled over and started pushing Andrew.

During Sam's morning nap, Andrew was playing out in the backyard while I folded some laundry. I didn't hear or see him out the window for a few minutes so I went to check on him and here's what I found.

The little sneak was totally spying on the neighbors! Last week when I caught him wiggling a screwdriver around in Sam's mouth I thought he might become a dentist someday, but now I'm wondering if he'll be a private eye!

At lunch I let Sam have chocolate milk for the first time. He loved it! Unfortunately, he is still getting used to a sippy cup and a lot of it ended up on his cute shirt.

Today Andrew wanted to sit on the toilet several times and it was the first day he intentionally urinated (TMI?), so after lunch we went off to Walmart to get some groceries and I let him choose some underwear. His first choice was the Dora the Explorer panties, but I nixed those, so his second choice was the sport waistband kind. So this afternoon was also his first time to wear underwear- three pair in fact. One backwards over his pants, and one on each arm. He seems pleased enough with them, even if they aren't Dora.

Right before dinner the weather was beautiful, so we played in the backyard again. Sam pointed and grunted at the big boy swing so I decided to let him try it. To my surprise, he held on to the ropes tightly and never fell off. Then the boys played with raw rice in the sensory table. I had to keep telling them not to eat it because it was just for play.

Then a little while later at dinner, we had beef stroganoff with cooked rice, and I had to keep telling them it was not to play with, only for eating. Talk about mixed messages. :)

Tonight at Family Home Evening Andrew got to choose the songs and he chose Jingle Bells both times, then we baked chocolate chip cookies, got ready for bed, and another day was gone. I sure love my little crew.

Graduation Day

2012-01-19T19:46:00.001-07:00

I studied elementary education in college. Student teaching went really well for me and I thought I would end up teaching public school, hopefully third grade. But when the time to find my first real job came, I didn't feel good about it. I followed my gut instinct and didn't accept any of the opportunities available. I wasn't really sure of what to do with myself and I ended up having a quarter-life crisis, feeling pretty low and doing a random job that I hated. After a few months of being miserable, I came across a job opening at Clear Horizons Academy, a private school for children with autism spectrum disorders. Although I felt terrified at the prospect of special education day in and day out, I got a job there, and from the minute I started I knew it was the right thing for me to do. Thomas spent some time volunteering there to help out and have a better understanding of what I experienced, and we had dozens of conversations about how we felt we were being prepared to someday have a special needs child.
Fast forward to Sam as a six month old baby. At 6 months old Sam was showing some clear signs of developmental delay. Having studied child development and having parented a child this age less than a year and a half previously, going into Sam's wellness checkup I already knew what the pediatrician was going to say, but it still hurt so badly to hear it out loud. He was recommended for early intervention and I went home and cried day and night for about three days. Although I had felt for several years that I would have a special needs baby, I was worried sick. Not because I would love him any less, but because I was terrified the world wouldn't appreciate him the way he deserves. I was also nervous about my own ability to help him reach his potential. All these fears gripped me for a few terrible weeks, then all of a sudden, they passed. He started physical therapy and occupational therapy a few days a week, and I did my best to work on his goals at home throughout every day. I felt peace and contentment knowing there was nothing more I could do.
Lo and behold, he made huge progress. Amazing leaps and bounds progress, all the time. He ended up coming from behind and catching up to age appropriate skills in every catergory, plus being slightly ahead in communication skills.
Today he graduated from pediatric rehab. (A name I despise, bytheway. This is a place for little kids. How is it re-hab if they never hab-ed in the first place?) We brought flowers and homemade cards to say thank you, then we said goodbye to his therapists and hello to more time for the park and the zoo and roadtrips and wherever else we want to go. I feel so proud of my boy. The one who probably doesn't have special needs after all, just needed a little extra attention for awhile. The one who was blessed by his Dad at birth to be, above all else, a hard worker. How's that for inspiration?

The One Hour Blitz

2012-01-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

2012 rocks, and it's because of the one hour blitz.
We've had some changes around here as a part of new year's resolutions. In the morning when I wake up, I REALLY wake up. No moping around wishing I were still in bed. Andrew wakes me up sometime between 6:30 and 7:00 each morning. We eat breakfast and do some one on one developmental time. Letters, colors, shapes, using scissors, sorting and building, whatever he seems interested in. Then Sam wakes up around 8 and I feed him and play with him and Andrew for about 15 minutes focusing mostly on Sam's goals (attention span is shorter and his gross motor goals are things he likes to do independently). At this point, the boys have had my attention and had their basic needs met, they're in their best moods of the day because they aren't tired, so they're pretty content to play together or by themselves. Then I start the one hour blitz.

I set the kitchen timer for one hour and go nuts on either exercising or cleaning my house, then when I'm tired of one, I switch. The exercise is just normal exercise, I do the elliptical,or a dvd, or whatever else, but the cleaning part is more interesting. Now we're not talking about any kind of cleaning, we're talking "I just received word that someone important is going to show up at my house in 10 minutes and it looks like a bomb off" type of frenzied cleaning. The kind of cleaning where you choose to work harder and get 4 tasks done in 30 minutes that you could have spent hours on if you were dragging your feet (like folding laundry, for instance). By the time bell signals that the one hour is up, the world around me is bright.
If I chose to do equal parts exercising and cleaning, I feel good about being balanced and accomplishing a variety of things. If I did more exercising, I feel great about my body. If I did more cleaning, my house looks awesome. It's kind of a win win situation, which we all could use more of.
Then from about 9:30 on I don't worry about cleaning unless something is necessary (like meal mess). The natural high from vigorous activity makes me less likely to eat junk food. It seems like the family has more time because we have the rest of the day to do errands, visit friends, or just play and learn at home.
I am guilt free to use naptimes and after the kids go to bed to do whatever I want for relaxation because the house just needs basic pick up and I had the time to give that day's mothering the best I had to give. Now don't think things go perfectly for the blitz every single day. Sometimes there is an appointment or a child needs some extra attention, so I just stop the timer and start again whenever I can. But what's been most surprising to me is how often it really does go smoothly, and how it didn't take very many days for it to become routine.

Is my life perfect? Of course not. Nobody's is. But I find I'm feel happy enough and energized enough that when something sour comes up, it doesn't seem like as big a deal as it used to. And I think it's directly related to the one hour blitz working for me. So what are your new year's resolutions? Do you feel like they're making enough of a difference that they'll actually last past January?

Fresh

2012-01-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

You know your significant other may be overly attached to technology when he asks you to name his new computer.

Welcome to the family, Storm Trooper. Thomas is very happy you're here, he's kissing everyone and can't stop smiling. I can tell you will have a lot of quality time together.

Thomas did take a break from exploring his new computer to put together the swingset the boys got for Christmas. With weather in the low 60s, we've already had a lot of playtime outside this week. The fresh air has done us all some good.

On New Year's Eve, Sam went to bed at 7. Thomas stayed home with him and played computer games with Uncle David, while I took Andrew out on a big boy adventure. He had a sippy cup full of lukewarm apple cider and his own box of chocolate teddy grahams and was ready to paint the town red. We drove around looking at the remaining Christmas lights and stopped at Grammy's house to dance and watch the Taylor Swift concert dvd. Andrew kept telling everyone "Happy Nora!" instead of Happy New Year. (Nora is the exchange student from Finland at the Barber house. We LOVE her.) We came home at 9:30 and he fell asleep immediately.
Thomas and I got more and more tired as midnight approached and made the mistake of crawling into bed to play games. We fell asleep at 11:40 like a bunch of old fuddy duddies.

We are excited for what 2012 has in store. Unless there is a major catastrophe, a lot of the year is predictable. Sam will learn to walk and talk. Andrew will potty train and start some kind of part time preschool (hopefully a co-op where I can take turns teaching). Thomas will graduate and begin his career. The only person with no specific plan is me. I will helping my family along in their goals, but I don't know what I'll be doing for myself. At first I thought that was kind of sad, but now I think it's kind of exciting. I have a blank page open before me, butterflies in my stomach, and energy bubbling inside me telling me to do something. I'm just not sure what.

It's My Party, I Can Cry If I Want To

2012-01-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Sam was sick for two weeks and spent a lot of time fussing and crying. Unfortunately, the sick time covered Christmas and his birthday. Fortunately, January 1st he was back in action.

We thought about postponing his birthday celebrations, but since we had five family members in from out of state, we carried on. He had a trip to the doctor to make sure he was not contagious and didn't have any bacterial infections, and that was all we could really do. We just held him a lot and let him have his pacifier whenever he wanted it.

Two days before his birthday was a party with the relatives.We served taco soup, green salad, fruit salad, cake, and ice cream. He opened presents. It was wonderful, but we have more camcorder footage than photographs. Perhaps I can add some later.

On his actual birthday, we invited a few friends and the remaining family over for party number two.

I did some decorating during naptime. We had snowman bagels, fruit salad, a tree shaped veggie/cheese tray, capri suns, rice cakes, penguin cupcakes, and ice cream.

Andrew helped me decorate the bagels, it's fun having a little helper.. And my tomato cheese tree is ridiculous, but I couldn't help myself.

Don't worry. A couple adults told me repeatedly that they didn't think the cupcakes looked like penguins. But the kids thought they were penguins, and that's all that counts. I don't claim to be a professional.
We also played Pummel the Penguin (threw fake snowballs at a penguin that plays music when you wobble it, the more you make the music play the more candy you win), and Decorate the Snowman (like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, blindfold and all). Coming up with no-cost birthday entertainment might be my new favorite hobby.

Sam cried a bit, but overall it was very manageable. Until he threw up all over his cute birthday outfit. And later when we tried to do his one year photos and he was sobbing. But besides those few minutes, things went great. He loved every single one of his presents (and Andrew may have loved them even more) and it was nice of our guests to make time for us during the holiday break. I know Sam won't remember this birthday, but I want him to look back and see that we always made a special effort to celebrate his birthday separate from Christmas.

Scarfing cake,

clapping hands,

and pointing at the camera, as one year old boys like to do. We love you, Sammy Man.

Sam In Numbers

2011-12-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

10- The number of times per day we purposefully work on developmental goals. Every day we do our best to help you reach your potential.
9- The number of steps you can climb in a row at Grammy's house. You climb on the trampoline so brother can bounce you. You climb into the fireplace, then smile and watch and wait for me to tell you to get out of there. You also like to slide and swing.

8- The number of times I save your life every time you take a bath. You love to dive bomb and put your face in the water. I pull you out, you sputter for a minute or two, then you laugh hysterically and try to to it again. You are so brave. When you get hurt on something, very rarely do you quit for good. Within a couple minutes you are usually back at it.

7- The number of teeth you have in your beautiful smile. You started teething at 6 months and that's when you started resisting nursing. They came so quickly that I thought you might have a full mouth by your birthday, but you haven't had a new one for about two months now. You still chomp on everything.

6- The number of times per day that you eat. You LOVE food. I give you a set amount of food at snack times, but at each meal I let you eat as much as you want. Eating is your best time for signing "more" and "all done." Friends have gawked in disbelief as they watched my baby pound two adult size plates of food. Your favorite foods are strawberries, grapes, eggs, pasta, beans, yogurt, and hot dogs, but you are not picky. I think you have refused to eat what we were eating for dinner maybe three times ever.

5- The number of times you were waking up at night before we moved and you got your own room. Thankfully, within a week you were only waking up once, and within two weeks you were sleeping through the night. All you needed was some space. I'm not sure when we'll put you in the same room as brother.
4- The number of words you use at least once a day. Mama, Dada, ball, and go. Today we heard you say more while you signed it, the other day you found a cat toy and said meow, every once in awhile you say bye while you wave, and we've heard you say car a few times while you're playing, too. You are getting better at copying the sound in a word someone says to you.

3- The number of people in the last few weeks who have come up to me at church and whispered that you're their favorite baby in the congregation. Some people in your life remember you for your crying, but most people remember you for your charm.

2- The number of items you're attached to for comfort. You love your small angel doggie blanket (lovey) and your pacifier. Most of the time you only get them for sleeping, but this week you've had them all day because you haven't been feeling well.
1- One year. A whole year with you in my arms, by my side, and consuming my days. It has been stressful, hopeful, exciting, and triumphant. Whatever people tell you in the years to come about when Sammy Barber was a baby, I want you to remember this: I loved you fiercely through every minute of it. Happy Birthday, sweet boy.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

On Christmas Eve we spent lots of time with family. Sam was ready to help Santa, offering Desitin to all the good boys and girls.

We tried reading 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, but the boys got bored. They enjoyed Luke 2 much better, especially with the addition of the finger puppets. Before bedtime there was lots of talk about how exciting things would be in the morning. Andrew got up 4 times during the night before he was allowed to have a light on, eat breakfast, etc. I guess that's what we get for building up the suspense. Since church was at 9am, we had planned to let the boys play with their new kitchen set and everyone opened their stockings.

Church was lovely, with several music numbers and a talk by our stake patriarch. For the first time in my life I really appreciated that the holiday fell on a Sunday. I kind of wish we could change it to occur on a Sunday every year the way that Easter does, but oh well.
After church we let Sam nap and then we opened the rest of our gifts from each other and the family in Utah. Later on we went over to Thomas' parents house where Sam had his first visit with his great grandparents, we ate a delicious dinner, and we exchanged more gifts. The whole day was wonderful.

Bundled Up

2011-12-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

Some days are warm (relatively), and some days are cold (also relative, especially compared to all you Utahns)! Here are the boys bundled up on their way to dinner for some chicken wings with Uncle Drew and Favorite Aunt Cassi. It's nice to know these coats will get some use at least one day this year.

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

2011-12-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

This year Andrew has learned about many important people from the 3 year old and 5 year old I babysat. He jumps out from behind the couch and yells "I the Boogyman!", he has nightmares about "bad guys", and he wanders around as Santa cupping air in his hands and gifting it to people over and over saying "I got present for you." So when Christmas rolled around and he had a face/figure to associate with this Santa man who gives out presents, he was elated. His first time to meet Santa this season was at the church Christmas party. He stared and shyly smiled while on Santa's lap, but he wouldn't talk. Once he was finished, however, he chattered all about it the whole way home and told us how Santa gives out presents AND can give a treat (candy cane). Sam wasn't particularly excited on Santa's lap, but he wasn't sad either. We shall see what happens next year.
Andrew's next run in with Santa was on our front lawn after Sam had gone to bed. One of the perks of living in a small town is that apparently Santa rides on top of a fire truck that bellows Christmas carols every year. He rides up and down all the streets, and whenever a child comes out, he jumps off the truck, goes up to their house, gives them a candy cane, and talks with them about what they want for Christmas. We were unaware of the tradition, so when we heard the LOUD music we just thought our neighbors had been drinking too much special eggnog and were rocking around the Christmas tree. When we finally saw the flashing lights coming in our windows, we rushed to open the door and Andrew's reaction to Santa out front was priceless. Santa even waited for Dad to go find the camera. Hooray for Santa!

The Christmas Package

2011-12-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

I felt like my mom lived for motherhood while I was growing up, and now she lives for grandmahood, too. Her packages are carefully thought out and always arrive in plenty of time for whatever they're celebrating. This year's Christmas package included a stocking the boys could unload the day we received it, and it was no disappointment. Inside were two sheets of window clings, four packages of candy, two holiday sippy cups, a Christmas magnet craft kit, a Mickey Mouse holiday ink stamp and sticker set, a Nativity board book, and a set of Nativity finger puppets. Finding all those treasures in the stocking felt like Christmas morning; every item was a hit.
Here is Andrew enjoying the Santa sippy in front of his window cling creation.

The gifts were wonderful at face value, but the creativity during the days that followed has been amusing also.
This morning, I watched Sam climb up to knock his little knuckles on the window, then climb down, grab aforementioned Santa sippy, then climb back up to bang it on the window. The sound is much louder that way.

Then tonight, Thomas and I were cracking up as we saw Andrew become quite resourceful.

Santa sippy became a golf tee, and a rattle fish (two Christmas's ago from Dan and Nicole) became a golf ball. Fore!

I'm 27 years old, and my mother is still making my Christmas merry. Thank You, Mom! (and Dad, and brothers, especially if you actually knew what was in the package. I love you.)

the most wonderful time of the year

2011-12-07T20:07:00.001-07:00

The Christmas season is in full swing around this Barber household. We put up the decorations the day after Thanksgiving and the kids are still obsessed. I was really frustrated with the way they wouldn't leave the tree alone, but then I remembered why I even put all this Christmas stuff out in the first place: to be enjoyed. So carry on, children. Just try not to hurt yourselves.

Everyday we dance to Raffi's Christmas album til our pants fall off. Oh, wait. Andrew just refuses to wear pants in the first place.

Speaking of Andrew, last night he didn't go to sleep until 10:15pm. Today he refused to take a nap and played around for an hour an a half, but then later threw about five tantrums while we were out doing errands because he was exhausted. At least three women in the Sam's Club parking lot gave me the "knowing smile", not being smug, just reminiscing the days when their toddlers acted as though they were possessed. I actually appreciated the little smiles and winks from customers passing by. Thankfully he was asleep within 20 minutes of going to bed tonight.

Sam and Andrew have really started entertaining each other in the last month. I find myself twiddling my thumbs a bit, I definitely don't have an excuse for avoiding reorganizing the closets or cleaning out the fridge. It's fun watching them become friends, but it also means they are starting to fight. For a kid who is not even one, Sam can hold his own. He knows how to push and to clench and twist shirts to try to get toys. In the last couple weeks I have seen him win toy battles with a two year old and a three and a half year old (known bullies, I might add) at play dates. With Andrew I haven't had to deal much with aggression, so learning to manage this is a new parenting challenge.

Today the chilly weather required a coat I don't pull out very often. I was met with a shriek. "MAMA! YOU A SHEEP?!?".

The boys then proceeded to snuggle and pet my coat..that is, until they started arguing over it.

Each day I feel like a crazy person. And each day I laugh til my stomach hurts. I love December.

Around My Table

2011-11-25T20:54:00.001-07:00

This was the third Thanksgiving in four years that we have stayed home and I have cooked the entire meal myself. Although it was quite busy that last hour before mealtime, it was definitely easier than preparing it last year as a very pregnant woman. I enjoyed the cooking and baking immensely, and the boys loved some extra Daddy time.
I am thankful for Thomas. He works so hard at school and work, he is an excellent father, and he lets me know he appreciates what I do.

I am thankful for Andrew. He is a kind playmate, he is attentive to details, and he is shaping out to be a very responsible oldest child.

I am thankful for Sam. He can charm a crowd during church, he is a fearless adventurer, and he was able to put away turkey, mashed potatoes, a deviled egg, half a roll, fruit, and a pumpkin cookie at his very first Thanksgiving dinner.

I am thankful for a lot of things, but most of all I am thankful for these guys.

Road Trip

2011-11-25T19:49:00.001-07:00

I was sad about not going to Utah to see my family for Thanksgiving, so I decided I needed a little pick me up. Since Thomas had to work extra Monday through Wednesday to make up for hours missed during the holiday, the boys and I packed up and headed to Houston for three days. First we stayed with my best friend from college, Brittany. Her daughter is two years old and although Andrew has been shy around her in the past, this time I thought they got along really well and they played together quite a bit. We spent the night at their house, and the next day we took a tour of the fire station where Britt's family volunteers.

After the fire station, lunch, and a delicious visit to Ritter's frozen custard, the boys and I headed over to my friend Crystal's house. She and I worked together for a year in Austin and were pregnant at the same time. Andrew and her two year old are pretty different personalities, but they had some good times here and there. Sam was happy to try to play with 6 month baby Alli, but his gestures of friendship often involved a pointer finger to the eye. We spent the second night at their house and it was fun for the boys to play with lots of new toys and go to the park twice.

Although I don't enjoy long car rides without my husband, the journey back and forth went as well as could be expected and the time we spent in Houston was certainly worth the trip. Sometimes it's just nice to get out on an adventure.

wide open spaces

2011-11-17T19:26:00.001-07:00

Andrew wanted to learn how to use the camera the other day. With some assistance, he got three pictures of Sam. As I browsed through them, I thought, "Wow, I never noticed how often Sam has his mouth wide open like that."

Then I arrived at the one Andrew had taken of me.

Apparently this look runs in the family.

*Please excuse the filthy hair and faces of those pictured above. It was early in the morning, right after after a particularly messy breakfast in which Sam washed his hair with bananas and attempted to use a sippy cup. I think we stopped to do some chores before hitting the showers, unaware we would end up at photo shoot.

happy halloween, from our farm to yours

2011-10-31T22:20:00.000-06:00

Halloween was a pretty big deal for us this year. A week ago we carved pumpkins and decorated jack-o-lantern sugar cookies.

On Friday we did the Safe Spook Trick-or -Treat, receiving goodies from the all the businesses along the main road in downtown Krum. It was the first chance to officially don the horse and cow costumes.

On Saturday we went to our church party which included more trick-or-treating, cake walks, and a fishing game where Andrew won an excellent glasses/giant nose/false mustache disguise.

On Halloween, we ate dinner at Chipotle because they were conveniently giving out free food to farm characters. My sister-in-law was the one who told me about it, so we met up with her family for a few minutes and got a picture with cow cousin Siri.

Barbers make adorable bovines.
Then there was trick-or-treating round three in our neighborhood. Andrew really had the whole process down by this point and it was a blast. After we returned home, we dumped the kids' buckets out in separate piles for them to enjoy. Sam promptly decided his pile was not suitable and headed toward Andrew's. Look closely to see Andrew desperately trying to gather his pile so he can move it away. This photo summarizes much of the current relationship between the boys- Sam only wants what Andrew has, Andrew spends an unfortunately large amount of his time trying to keep what is rightfully his. Happy Halloween.

my big guys...kind of

2011-10-30T19:42:00.001-06:00

Tonight I was talking with Andrew at the table while getting him a snack just before bed. Our conversation went like this:
S: Andrew, what was your favorite thing about today?
A: Mmmm...my candy bucket! (He has gone trick or treating twice this weekend and it's not even Halloween yet.)
S: What makes you excited for tomorrow?
A: Jessie come to my house. (I babysit two kids on Mondays and Wednesdays.)
S: You're right! Jessie is coming over in the morning! You're so smart. Andrew, why do you love Mommy and Daddy?
A: Mmmm....Mommy and Daddy play a basketball hoop. (We do play A LOT of ball around our house. I know someday I will have to outlaw indoor sports, but today is not that day.)
These questions were not random, but Thomas says I'm not allowed to reveal the tradition behind them because it's a family secret. I don't think very many people read my blogger journal anyway, but whatever. :) Let's just say that Thomas and I were close to tears in love with our little boy. It was his first time to answer the special questions, and I hope he will always be as content as he was tonight to sit and talk with me around the table.

Sam turned 10 months old yesterday and is showing quite the personality. His newest development is turning the pages when we read books. He still throws out smiles to just about anyone, but he also seems like he will have a wild temper. Poor little guy wasn't feeling well last night and had Daddy up from 2-4am and Mommy from 4-8am. As I propped him up to minimize his coughing and snuggled him in his sleep, I had a lot of time for reflection. I knew I was tired, exhausted actually, and it was frustrating to realize I would probably be up for the rest of the day, but I made the conscious decision not to focus on that. Instead I smelled the shampoo in his hair, caressed his soft hands and cheeks, and felt his warm breath on my skin. Because a baby is a baby just for a moment, and then that moment's gone.

Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Goooooooooooo

2011-10-15T22:22:00.000-06:00

Sammy!

We are also cheering for the Cougars, but mostly we are cheering for Sam because his wellness check with the new pediatrician was very positive.

Sam is 9 months old. He weighs 21 pounds and eats roughly 3 times as much food as Andrew. He has five teeth showing, probably will get number 6 this week. He became mobile a couple of weeks ago, and now I leave the room for 5 minutes to clean a toilet and come back to see him eating all kinds of things that are not meant for babies but somehow he has managed to find anyway (last week it was cashews, a thorny stick, and a dead fly). He loves to look at books- his favorite is to point his chubby little index finger at the pictures in the ABC vocab book that the Ponczochs gave us when he was born. He does not love his bottle, but he loves to sloppily drink from sippy cups and big guy cups. We are starting to teach him what No means, usually when he is trying to steal toys from his brother or destroy Daddy's glasses. He had his first bite of ice cream a few weeks ago and now he screams and thrashes for more bites whenever any is in sight. You know he's his happiest when he growls like a tiger. We love you Sam, and we will always be your biggest cheerleaders.

One Man's Trash

2011-10-12T20:23:00.005-06:00

is another man's treasure.

The internet is full of all kinds of hobby blogs. Some people make crafts. Some people take photos. Some people are fashionistas. One day I was daydreaming of what kind of blog I would make if I were to create a hobby blog. I don't have many hobbies I am confident enough in to feel like I could give any worthwhile advice to others...except one. Garage Saling. Anyone who knows me well, knows how cheap I am. I sure love a good bargain.
If you're looking to save a few dollars in these hard economic times, especially with Christmas around the bend, garage sales are a great way to go.

Here are a few tips.
1. Make a list of specific items you're looking for. You're less likely to buy junk you don't need.
2. Decide on how far you would be willing to go without feeling it a total waste of time if you don't buy anything. I recommend not driving more than 15 minutes to a garage sale unless you know a sale has a specific item you are looking for.
3. Craigslist is the best resource I've found for garage sale listings. If an ad on craigslist mentions an item you've been desperately searching for, you can reply to the email address and ask if you could come look at the item a day or two early to ensure that someone doesn't buy it before you.
4. Go to a garage sale within an hour of it starting, especially if it is on a Saturday. In fact, most people don't mind if you show up 15 minutes or so before the official start time. The best deals go super fast.
5. I recommend not paying more than 50% of the retail value for something. Sellers shouldn't expect to make all their money back for something they are done using. 20% of retail value is a good deal. 10% of retail value is an excellent deal, and I think you should never feel guilty about something you buy for that cheap, even if it is a "want" more than a "need."
6. The world is full of lots of nice people and a few jerks. Don't be afraid to tell a seller what you're willing to pay even if it's considerably lower. Most sellers will be really polite, even if they say no. You'd be surprised at the possibilities when you ask for a lower price. Sometimes people will even negotiate delivery with you if you find something you really like but don't happen to have a truck. I've had a washer/dryer set, a bookcase, an elliptical machine, and a giant desk delivered to my place for FREE by various kind garage sellers.

Some of my favorite garage sale finds include our kitchen light fixture for $5, some brand new stride rite tennis shoes for Andrew for $7, my washer and dryer for $75, plus free delivery to my house, and my favorite church dress that cost me a quarter.

Garage sales are awesome, and they're even more fun with friends. (Unless you wear the same size or have the children of the same age...then you might feel some unwelcome animosity if they snag something excellent, even though you know you should just be happy for them...not that I'm shallow enough to have ever felt that way...)

So make your wish list, hop online or scour your local newspaper for locations, and grab your best pal to roam around town with you at the crack of dawn. Happy Garage Saling!

So Long, Summer

2011-09-13T18:55:00.004-06:00

Life seems to be racing by. It feels like most days go slowly and the weeks go fast. Don't ask me how that works, but I can't believe the summer is over.
My parents came for a visit in the end of August, arriving on Thomas' and my sixth anniversary. We didn't do many out of the ordinary activities while they were here since it was so ridiculously hot outside, but it was nice to just have Grandma and Grandpa involved in our everyday life.

Thomas is almost done with his second rotation. He has job interviews set up for next month and received his graduation information for May. Today at work he got to whip up the specialty chapstick for the pharmacy and combine whichever flavors he desired so he made cinnamon tangerine and clove teaberry chapsticks. He brought one home and it was scrumptious. He also made grape and raspberry tetracaine lollipops, which are suckers with numbing medicine in them for infants/kids with sore throats who won't open their mouths wide for chloraseptic spray.
I don't have any recent photos of him, mostly because he is rarely home.

Andrew is a cookie begging, train throwing, Elmo dancing, alphabet machine. He is more naughty than he used to be, but he is still sweet most of the time. Comes with the age I suppose. Yesterday when Thomas came home from work Andrew was able to tell Daddy three things that had happened that day without prompts. (played with Willie, Mommy stepped in gum, found a football at the park) Today I snapped this photo of him and he looked more like a little boy than a toddler. Sniff.

Sammy Man is eight months old and is starting to say more sounds. My favorite of course is ma-ma. He is getting pretty good at eating big guy food. Today when he ate the same meal as the rest of us for dinner, I let him celebrate by giving him his first chocolate cookie for dessert.

And then there's me. I started babysitting some kids in the ward two mornings a week. I do mommy/baby physical therapy and occupational therapy with Sam twice a week. Teaching 9 year olds in primary is my favorite calling I've ever had. I challenged the extended family to a Biggest Loser contest and lost 3 pounds last week. Yesterday I finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, but I don't recommend it. Nora, my new Finnish sister who is staying as an exchange student at the other Barber house, took this photo of me at a wedding a few weeks ago. When did I start looking so much older? I also have a patch of about 50 gray hairs on the left side of my head and Thomas says it makes me look like Cruella DeVille, but cooler. Nice one, honey.
Well, that's the end of summer. We are getting outside more now that mornings are in the 80's. Welcome, Autumn! Some challenges come and go. Some stick around. Still grateful to be living a fairly charmed life.

no offense

2011-09-04T16:42:00.004-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about offense- whether it's being offended or offending someone else. I once heard it said that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill someone else. I think that being offended is similar, in that the one who it hurts the most is the one who is taking offense. A sensitive subject has risen in my life in the last few months and I catch myself getting angry more often than I'd like. I don't want others to feel like they have to walk on eggshells when they talk with me. I realize that when people say certain things they don't realize they're being hurtful. I'm trying to give people the benefit of the doubt, and trying to figure out the balance of when to respond and when to remain silent.

This isn't the first time I've been in this boat. A few years ago I struggled with infertility- not the type where one has trouble conceiving, but the kind where one has difficulty keeping a pregnancy. I wanted a baby so badly, and in a religious culture where babymaking seems to be at the forefront of conversation and experience I had to search deeply within myself to find happiness and satisfaction with my life, in spite of who asked me why I didn't have kids yet, who I felt jealous of, or what circumstances I saw that I thought were completely unfair (i.e. 16 year olds with healthy babies). Thankfully, after about a year of feeling overwhelmed and upset frequently, I was able to curb a lot of the negative feelings I was experiencing. Another year after that I was fortunate enough to start having successful pregnancies, getting two babies in 17 months. Now that I'm in a different position on the motherhood spectrum, I hope to be mindful of those around me who are still yearning for children. I know I don't always do or say the right things, but I hope that I can become more sensitive to others, especially since it wasn't so long ago that I was in their shoes.
Someone close to me recently sent out a link to this article, which I thought was very helpful and a lot of the tips apply to to more topics than infertility alone.

As far as the not becoming offended, that journey won't likely end anytime soon, but I think its course can improve. So my question for anyone who reads this is how do you handle it positively when someone says something hurtful and they didn't even realize they were doing it? How do you handle it when they realize exactly what they're saying, do you correct them? If you do, how do it without being confrontational? Any advice would be great. :)

Sharptooth

2011-08-02T20:54:00.002-06:00

Sammy just hit the seven month mark.

He gnaws on his pacifier.

He gags on his spoon.

He chews all his toys.

Sometimes he is very happy, sometimes he is not. Let's just post one more happy picture and focus on that.

Dear Sammy,
Your first two teeth came in eight days apart, so you haven't had much relief. I promise life gets better, and I still think you are a joy. Even when you bite me while you are nursing.
Love,
Your Mama.

Happy Day! Two Ya Olds!

2011-07-23T19:34:00.006-06:00

We've been celebrating Andrew's birthday for three days so now he runs around saying, "Happy Day! Two Ya Olds!", which translates to "Happy Birthday, two years old!". Here are some of our favorite things about our Roo, and a few photos to remind him someday of what he was like when he turned two.

He says "Daddy hold you?" or "Mommy hold you?" all the time. He still loves to snuggle.

Feeding Sam a bottle while watching "dino tv", which is Land Before Time Ten. Yes, number ten. Andrew is obsessed with dinosaurs right now. His birthday cake was a chocolatey dinosaur mudslide.

He is thoughtful and gentle. He checks on Sam whenever Sam is crying and tries to find a paci or even gives Sam his most prized possession- the lovey. Roo shares his food and toys with visitors. Our bishop came over and by the end of his stay Bishop was holding blocks, a plane, a football, and several books.

Feeding some birthday cake to Aunt Afton. Aunt Afton is one of Andrew's most favorite people on Earth. About five times a day he asks if he can go see her. He will be heartbroken when she goes back to BYU-I in the fall.

Andrew can be the silliest kid around, but he saves the best of himself for his family, in his own home. He runs around in circles giggling and singing and dancing. How many of us save the best of ourselves for our family? What a great example.

We invited a few neighbors from our street to a lowkey birthday party. Who needs to rent a bouncehouse when you can use your own toys to make a (cheapo) masterpiece like this?!

Although we try to keep Andrew quiet during church, he is definitely the loudest child in our congregation. He yells Amen! after each prayer, talk, etc., and shouts Hooray! at the end of each song. There is a bit of a running joke in our ward that Andrew should have been a Pentecostal.

Our favorite ritual is bedtime. We pray, he sings the I Love You song from Barney, then we lay him down, he snuggles his lovey, his blanket, and his froggy pillow, tells us "sssshhhhhh! go sleep! ssssshhsh!" and then passes out in mere minutes.

Clutching the beloved Lovey, which induces immediate thumb sucking. I don't think we'll be able to get rid of the habit unless we get rid of
Lovey. Eek.

It's not too hard to believe it's been two years with Andrew. Long enough to love the boy like crazy. Short enough that we're still soaking it up. He's stinking cute. He'll even tell you so.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

tale of misery followed by a pre-birthday bash

2011-07-20T19:49:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was the pits. One of the worst days in my stay-at-home-mother career. Synopsis is this: Sam hadn't pooped for a week and we had tried a zillion things to help him out. He had to go to the doctor for a number of issues. We had to wait over an hour and a half to be seen even though we were on time for our appointment. Kids whined most of the time. Two stores in Krum TX who carried the proper treatment were both sold out so we're still searching for it. Per doctor's orders I had to give the baby an enema designed for a 5 year old, then watch him give birth to his blockage several times. Andrew threw major tantrums because he wanted an enema too (!?!). By nighttime I had cried a lot. I had a headache. Whatever.
I was determined that today would be a better day. Since Andrew's birthday is Friday, I decided we would make today great by beginning the celebration early. We made cupcakes, went to a playgroup with all the neighbors, visited with Grammy and Aunt McKenna who returned from China, then I let Andrew open presents my parents had sent. Tonight we ate yummy food and played and played with Thomas after he got home from work. Now we're relaxing and eating Jamba Juice popsicles, which are my new guilty pleasure. Phew. Today is a better day. Here are some pics.
Are (almost) 2 year olds supposed to play coy?

Hippo and Sam are basically the same size. Except Sam the Tank is 6 months old and weighs over 20 pounds. Andrew making the same constipation face as Sam, except his only trouble was getting his train out of the box.

Andrew eats his popcorn from his new tub, chows his dino fruit snacks, sips from his basketball water bottle, plays with his train, and watches his Land Before Time dvd all at once. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! And in the background, Sam throws out the big cheesers.

"Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, say, can you see

2011-07-04T20:30:00.007-06:00

how we celebrated the 4th of July?

We put out some wooden fire cracker decorations I made at an activity a couple weeks ago.

We dressed in our red, white, and blue to go to the patriotic breakfast at church.

The rest of the day we went grocery shopping, took naps, installed a washer, dryer, dishwasher, and light fixture. We ate a regular dinner and in place of my usual 4th of July flag-style fruit pizza, I just laid out some fruit on a cookie sheet because Thomas and I decided recently we are going to try to lose some weight. The fruit was tasty, but it just looked so pitiful without the sugar cookie, cream cheesey goodness underneath. (sorry I can't get the picture to rotate)
After dinner we stopped by Grammy and Paca's house to hang out with the family. We were planning to let the kids stay up to watch fireworks, but they started getting grouchy about an hour after their regular bedtime, so it was a no-go this year. Maybe next time?

nos·tal·gia

2011-07-01T18:59:00.004-06:00

näˈstaljə noun 1. A sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

Today I am longing for a past period and place with happy personal associations. I took Sam in for his 6 month wellness check, and even though the new pediatrician was nice, I missed the doctor we had in Austin and realized doctor visits will never be the same. Afterward I was upset and wished I had some mom friends to talk to face to face, maybe cry with. Then I saw a bunch of pictures on blogs with all those ladies from student housing gathered together and it made me feel worse. Right now I am really missing our life in Austin.

Thankfully some of the best pieces of the way things used to be can still be a part of our life here. Even though we've only been gone a month, my friend Jen and her daughter Mia made the four hour drive to come visit us last weekend.
Andrew and Mia are about two and a half months apart and they played a lot together. They read books, took baths together, played Andrew's favorite "fishie game", made a tent with blankets, threw rice in the backyard, kept each other company in nursery, and watched some movies. (Well...mostly Mia was good at watching movies. Andrew only stuck around for the popcorn.) We all went to the Fort Worth Zoo the last day. My favorite part of the trip, though, was in the evenings when the kids went to bed and I had some quality girl time with Jen. It was good for my soul.

Ever since they went back to Austin I am missing our old life even more than I did the first week after we moved. This nostalgia thing kind of stinks, but I guess I should just be grateful that I ever had a time in my life I liked so much. And look for ways to make this new stage nostalgia-worthy too.

Sam at Six

2011-06-29T08:14:00.007-06:00

Dear Sammy,
Today you are six months old, and what a six months it has been. While you are napping sweetly I'd like to record a few of my favorite things about you.
I love how you roll over to your side and snuggle your lovey tightly to help yourself fall asleep.
I love watching you play. You enjoy stuffed animals and some rattles, but your favorite toys right now are not really toys. They are your pacifier and your feet. You pull your paci in and out, babble at it, and smile at it. Getting rid of the paci someday might be quite the chore!

I love watching you learn new things. You are learning to sit up and so far you can do the tripod sit for about 10 seconds. When you're on your tummy you try so hard to move around, especially when you want to see what brother is doing. You can turn yourself around 180 degrees and slide over about a foot. Soon enough I will turn around and be unsure of where you've gone! (I know this isn't the best picture, you look kind of sleepy since it was right before a nap, but it's the only one I have so far of you sitting up)I love that you love to look at yourself in the mirror. At some point the narcissism may need to stop, but for now it's very convenient that staring at your gorgeous reflection keeps you calm in the back of relief society until the lesson is over. I can't really blame you, you are one of the most handsome boys I've ever seen.
Your big, chubby, milky, smiley babyness is so endearing and you bring out happiness in those around you. Here you are with Aunt Moe last Saturday, the day she returned to Japan.
Happy six months! I sure love you, my Sam.
Love,
Mommy

a boy and his dad

2011-06-23T18:59:00.005-06:00

This morning they marched around the front yard pulling weeds, flinging dirt, and getting quite sweaty. This afternoon they ate about a million fruit snacks and several popsicles. Tonight the boy really wanted a fort for reading bedtime stories, so his dad obliged. It's going to be hard on all of us when Thomas begins rotations next week, but I think it will be the hardest on Andrew.
While Father's Day was quite fun, I hope Daddy knows we appreciate him every single day. Love you, Thomas.

That's why they call me Barber

2011-06-17T20:34:00.003-06:00

My mom cut all the family's hair growing up, and it's what I'm doing too. It makes sense for us since money is tight as Thomas finishes his last year of grad school, but it's also kind of fun. I'm not great at it, but I figure the more I practice the better I'll become.

I call this look "The Un-Mullet", long in the front and short in the back.

I call this look "The Toddler Hustle", meaning there are about 5 minutes of squirming before Andrew decides not even a popsicle or sucker is worth the torture of mommy coming at him with scissors. Oh well. I don't think many people will notice his haircut when he parades around in women's jewelry.

And then there's this little guy. Sam might as well be short for Samson because that sweet 'do is not going anywhere for a looong time.

"New House!"

2011-06-14T19:43:00.001-06:00

Things have been pretty crazy the last few weeks. I hope we never move again. Or at least not for a few years. Many thanks to all our friends who helped us by babysitting, cleaning, loading the truck, etc. Such displays of kindness made me even more sad to leave Austin. In fact, Thomas was so sad that he insisted on spending an extra night. ;) (His dad's truck broke down about 40 minutes away from Austin and they had to rent a uhaul truck to pull the original uhaul trailer to our new house. Then they had to return to Austin the next week to pick up the repaired truck. One painful ordeal among many, but let's just try to focus on the positive, okay?)
I think we are pretty much adjusted to our new arrangements and we are enjoying the luxury of living in a house rather than an apartment. Even though it's been two and a half weeks, Andrew yells "new house!" every time we pull into the driveway. His jaw drops in wonder each time the garage door opens and closes. He shrieks with delight each time we ding dong the doorbell. He and his vast collection of balls have a backyard of their very own. I can put my stroller wherever I darn well please. (Wink to my Brackenridge buddies.) Soon enough Thomas and I will have a dishwasher and washer and dryer for the first time in our marriage. Yes, yes, renting a house was a wise decision, even if Thomas does have a lengthy commute for the next year.
I will post pictures, but not tonight. Our internet is temporary and I am too busy basking in my new found free time since baby Sam decided his own bedroom was all needed to start sleeping through the night. Loves from the Barbers in Krum, TX.

Hey Mama

2011-05-08T14:46:00.007-06:00

Thomas is in the middle of last set of finals ever, but he has still been at home spending lots of time with us to celebrate Mother's Day. Yesterday I got to choose our activities all day and it basically consisted of eating nutella while listening to Jar of Hearts on repeat and playing about 30 games of Family Feud on the internet. After dinner we indulged in my favorite dessert, mint oreo ice cream. Even though a spoon or bare hands would be acceptable, Andrew ate his ice cream cone with a fork. It worked better than the toothbrushes did the other day.
Andrew then honored me by modeling my sunglasses. (He has also been wearing my underwear on his head a lot lately...but don't worry...I'm not posting those pictures.)
Today Andrew made me a giant flower necklace at church.
Sam pretty much sat around looking adorable.
Thomas colored this picture of me recently, and this evening he is making a symbolic dinner. The spinach is to remind us of the way my face used to turn green before I threw up several times a day during pregnancy...you get the idea. Sounds appetizing, right?! In case you can't read the writing in the picture, it says "I am bloodshot eye Mama. NO SLEEP"
It's been a great Mother's Day. I feel so fortunate to be a mother. For all those wondering when it will happen for them, hang in there. Whether it be through your own body or someone else's, the generosity and love of our Heavenly Father will bring miracles and sooner or later your lap will be overflowing. Happy Mother's Day.

Viva Mexico

2011-05-05T19:16:00.003-06:00

I love to celebrate pretty much any holiday. Sometimes I even make up holidays.
For the royal wedding we watched all the tv coverage and ate a blend of garlic and rosemary roast chicken, red potatoes, and carrots, along with strawberries, french vanilla cream, and almond berry cake. I was in heaven all day.
Being one quarter Mexican, of course we had to celebrate Cinco de Mayo today. We danced to latin music, I wore my handstiched flower shirt from Mexico, and we ate enchiladas and beans prepared from my great grandmother's recipe. I tried to teach Andrew to say "besame" which means "kiss me" in Spanish. He now knows what it means, but he wouldn't repeat it to me. He did, however decide to celebrate by eating his dinner with two toothbrushes in place of a fork and spoon.Hooray for holidays!

In My Opinion

2011-05-02T18:52:00.004-06:00

This morning I turned on the tv and immediately saw footage of people dancing in the street at an "Osama is dead" party. As I flipped from station to station watching and listening to each network's "inside scoop" on the death of a terrorist I grew more and more sad. As I took a moment to reflect on what was bothering me when so many others seem jubilant, I soon realized it was that a lot of the celebration I saw was inappropriate. One might express relief at feeling safer, pride in the courage of our military personnel, or fervency in remembrance of those who died on 9/11, but to celebrate violence and slaughter is hypocritical.
It reminds me of the words Martin Luther King, Jr. "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that".

Have you heard of the Tiger Mother?

2011-04-10T16:29:00.002-06:00

Today a few of my friends at church were talking about a woman named Amy Chua, also known as the Tiger Mother. Her article titled "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" is an excerpt from her book of memoirs called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and has a lot of people talking.
This article will likely make you think about the way your parents raised you. It will likely make you think about how you might raise a child of your own. Take 5 minutes to read it here.

I wish I could attend a book club type meeting based on this article because it would yield good conversation. If you choose to read the article, please comment because I'm curious to know what you think.
What points do you agree with? Did anything make your blood boil? If so, can it be all that bad if a parent is helping their child reach full potential by refusing to give up on them or let them give up on themselves? At what point do the ends justify the means? How do you define success?

27

2011-04-09T08:31:00.006-06:00

is how old I turned yesterday. It was also the head count in my apartment at about 7:30 pm.

The celebrating started on Tuesday when one of my friends took me and another birthday girl to see a movie.. We watched The King's Speech (re-released in theaters as pg-13. Has that ever happened before?) and I really enjoyed it. The only part I didn't like was Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill. He totally creeps me out every time his face comes up on screen in any movie.
On Thursday another friend brought me birthday treats and I started getting birthday calls and texts. On Friday I was greeted with more phone calls, texts, email, and facebook messages than I knew what to do with. Sam had given me the rare gift of a 6 hour stretch of sleep and I was feeling pretty happy. He also took some good naps during the day.
In the morning Thomas gave me breakfast-in-couch while I was nursing. I also had a restaurant gift card notification from Drew and Cassi in China. Andrew gave me a private rock concert.
Thomas found some cake decorating tutorials online and burned them to a dvd and promised me a long back massage. It was such a great surprise since I love to bake, but don't know much about decorating.
We made P.F.Changs frozen dinner in the afternoon and Thomas cleaned up our apartment. He got to experience what it's like to cook, clean, and take care of babies all at the same time. I think it made him very tired.
For the evening, I had arranged for my friend to babysit so Thomas and I could go play tennis. As we laughed and joked and hit the ball around for an hour I wished it could have lasted the whole night, but we had to get back to our kids. I was already feeling like I'd had my best birthday ever when we returned home to discover a surprise party. My sweet friends had brought yummy food, balloons, streamers, flowers, and tons of people. It was crowded and noisy and so much fun.
Thank you, thank you to everyone who made me feel special. I am one lucky 27 year old.
\

uno, dos, TRES!

2011-03-30T16:44:00.003-06:00

Our Sam Man is 3 months old already! He started rolling over from front to back about a month ago, but now he does it more consistently. He is discovering his hands- he stares at them, sucks on them, bats at toys and attempts to grab. Because of this he is starting to enjoy the baby play gym.

Thanks to his older brother he is also trying new foods. This is what I saw in the living room last week while I was trying to do the dishes:

Sam was doing tummy time and Andrew decided to share some tortilla chips with him. See the chip Andrew so carefully placed in Sam's little left hand? Andrew also tries to give him apples and rocks to eat. They may be choking hazards, but sharing is caring, right? I get to keep a close eye on Sam for his protection.
My favorite thing about 3 months old is that yesterday Sam learned to laugh. There are times when I feel like each sleep deprived night takes a year off my life (think torture machine from The Princess Bride), but that little baby laugh reminds me of how grateful I am to be a mama. Happy 3 months, Ram Sam Sam!

Compare and Contrast

2011-03-22T19:54:00.003-06:00

This was last week on St. Patrick's Day. Grammy Lisa had just called and said she was almost to our house and ready for some fun. I looked at my kids and had to laugh because they didn't look very ready to party.

This was today. Sam was in the bouncer while I showered, then I got out to find Andrew sitting in his potty chair shooting hoops and cheering for himself. Although they still have runny noses, my kids are mostly better and I have renewed gratitude for good health.

Since our St Patrick's Day was spoiled by sickness, I think we will celebrate this Thursday instead. Lime green jello poke cake, coming right up.

You Win Some, You Lose Some

2011-03-17T14:21:00.002-06:00

Remember how I wrote just a few days ago that Sammy was so much happier with each passing day? Scratch that.
Granted, the poor boy is sick, so it's not his fault he's singing a different tune. A very painful, hoarse tune. A tune that rings out all night long, in spite of mommy and daddy holding him constantly all through the night and getting 5 hours of sleep total, between both of them because they are doing their best to help him while keeping eachother sane. Add that to brother Andrew who is also sick, coughs all night, trips all day from exhaustion, and is (even) more sensitive than usual, and we're kind of a wreck.
But this too shall pass. Let's just hope BYU fares better in this march madness.

Blessed

2011-03-13T19:17:00.005-06:00

Last Sunday Thomas was able to give our son Sam a name and a blessing at church. Sam was adorable wearing the same outfit Thomas wore as a baby, but more importantly, the blessing itself was wonderful. I admire that when Thomas gives a blessing, he pauses frequently. It makes blessings a bit lengthier than some that others give, but I appreciate how hard he focuses on listening to what the Holy Spirit would have him say rather than relying on scripted lines. Among many things, he blessed Sam to be a hard worker, to have a strong sense of individuality and self-worth, and to love the temple.

We were fortunate to have many friends and family visit to celebrate our son and enjoy this special occaison. My parents flew in from Utah. My grandparents drove from Utah. Thomas' parents and siblings drove from the Krum area. My best friend from college brought her family from Houston. Some friends from the ward stopped by after church. Things were busy, but it was so great to spend time together.

Sam is 10 weeks old now and he is more alert and more cheerful with each passing day. We are blessed to have him as part of our family.

I'm Like Baby, Baby, Baby, Ooooohhh

2011-02-15T08:02:00.006-07:00

I love when chubby little babies begin to social smile.
I really, really love when those same babies have their first 6.5 hour stretch of sleep.
Today is a good day.

p.s. Too bad you didn't win a Grammy, Biebs. I am secretly planning to see Never Say Never anyway.

A Tale of Two Cupids

2011-02-15T07:52:00.005-07:00

Once upon a time there was a cute little cupid who was trying to decide who to help fall in love.

But matchmaking was hard work.

Thankfully, he found another cute little cupid to help him out.

That little cupid also thought this business was rather stressful.

The first cupid calmed him down and told him if they worked together it might not be so bad.

They became business partners and helped people all over the world find love.

Hope you had a delightful Valentine's Day.

me and my gang

2011-02-03T18:10:00.004-07:00

I cried the night before my mom went back to Utah, partially because I was going to miss her, partially because I was nervous to take care of both boys by myself. It breaks my heart to see them sad and a mama can only do so many things at one time.
Thankfully, last week went much better than I thought it would. There were times when things were chaotic but it was only for a few minutes at a time. I feel we are getting established in a routine and I actually took a nap every day because I was able to get the boys to sleep at the same time. Let's just say that God hears and answers prayers.
Sammy is five weeks old and is cute as a button. For a couple weeks he got cranky as his reflux got worse and worse, but now he has a prescription that seems to be helping. He is more content while he is awake and is actually sleeping in his bassinet again so I can get things done or give some one on one attention to Andrew. Sam and I are still getting most of our quality time together at night because his longest sleep so far is 3 hrs and is usually only 2 or 2.5 hrs. But he is snuggler and it is my chance to admire his wild man hair and darling dimple.
Since the weather turned cold Andrew had to find a replacement for being outside, so he has rekindled his love of the bathtub. He requests a "baf" about 50 times a day but I let him take two. I figure it take care of the mess from feeding himself and the bath entertains him with a different set of toys.
As a mother of two, I am entitled to trying to get a good picture of both of them. Some attempts are better than others. ;)

A Very Merry Half Birthday

2011-01-24T13:51:00.003-07:00

In this home we celebrate half birthdays. Some people tell me it's weird. I don't really care.
Last year we had an actual party for Andrew and invited about a dozen people and had a whole meal with dessert. This year was slightly more low key, but we did still celebrate. We bought ice cream and got chinese take out for dinner. I sang him half birthday songs. We did laundry because, let me tell you, my boy LOVES the laundromat.

Pillow fights are one of Andrew's newest joys. What is a half birthday party without a good wack in the face from a giant, cotton filled mass?

Andrew's fortune cookie at dinner read something like "Your perseverance will pay off". Is there any better way to describe an 18 month old? I don't think so.

Our boy likes to help himself to a snack whenever mom or dad has left something too low on the shelves.

Part of our nightly ritual includes Andrew hiding in the farthest kitchen cupboard in efforts to avoid pajamas.

From eating off a spoon and fork, to attempts at dressing and undressing, to imitating the words we say, to caring for the baby, Andrew sometimes seems more interested in working on "life skills" than playing with actual toys. He is our little shadow. Yesterday I turned around to see him working on changing Sam's diaper. He even remembered to get the wipes.

18 months also marks a rite of passage for young Mormons. It's the age at which a child can start attending the toddler class at church called nursery. Yesterday at church, Andrew loved the first hour of nursery where it is a free-for-all with tons of toys. The second portion when the kids sit in chairs for snack, lesson, and singing time was harder for him. Apparently he didn't want to put the toys away (and they said a boy twice his size hit him during cleanup, that probably didn't help either) so Andrew started crying. Thomas happened to hear him from down the hallway, took awhile to console him, and sat with him for the rest of nursery. Overall, I think Andrew had fun, and it will definitely be good for him to have some time away from Mom and Dad.

We sure love our toddler guy. Happy 18 months, Rooster!

Bear Envy

2011-01-16T14:26:00.009-07:00

Doesn't seeing this cutie make you want to curl up for a long winter's nap?

I don't miss the cold, snowy winters in Utah. Maybe there is a mild ache the week of Christmas, but that's about it. Well, Texas' version of cold has finally set in and will last about 6 weeks I'm guessing. Thomas and I are kind of wimps about it, making ridiculous deals with each other and shouting "not it!" when it comes to taking Andrew outside. Who knew that toddlers still crave being outside several hours per day, whether or not their fingers are numb and lips are turning blue? Here's Andrew enjoying his train on an afternoon that wasn't overly chilly.

Sam likes to go outside too as long as he's being snuggled. Pull him out of his beanie and blankie for a photo and he looks upset (understandable), but snuggle him again and he dozes off almost immediately.

The cold weather reminds me of winters past and how good it felt to be nestled under a down comforter, wearing fuzzy socks, sleeping so deeply a foghorn couldn't wake me up. This winter, however, a newborn who eats every 3 hours day and night doesn't allow for hibernation. This is a sacrifice I willingly make, but not without wistfully staring off into space at 3 am, daydreaming (is it called daydreaming if it's actually at night?) of next winter's slumber.

The Pursuit of Sappiness

2011-01-08T09:03:00.003-07:00

My blog posts come across as incredibly sappy, and it is completely intentional.
The reason I do it is so that when I have nights like the last two I can look back on treasured memories recorded here and reflect on my blessings.
The last two days my adorable toddler has been a whiny mess. My sweet newborn who had never cried for more than five minutes has spent several hours per night fussing and insisted on being walked around to be soothed. The circles under my eyes are the darkest they've ever been. Ever.
But as I look back on the past few days, months, and years through my blog, I remember how irreplaceable this time is. How desperately I pleaded with God to be a mother and the joy I have felt in having those prayers answered not once, but twice, in the last 18 months.
I am a mother and I can do hard things. Because these are God's precious children, He will give me the strength to do whatever is required. And my sappy writing reminds me of that. Life's journey is not always easy, that's not the way it's meant to be, but when we choose to look for the positive and put things in perspective, a rough night here or there becomes inconsequential and the brightness of hope and love and dreams fulfilled shines through.

As Good As It Gets: Introducing Samuel James Barber

2011-01-05T14:40:00.005-07:00

Samuel James Barber was born on December 29, 2010 at 11:20pm measuring 20.5 inches long and weighing in at 8lbs 5 oz.

He really did not seem to want to be born and there were no signs of him changing his mind, so I had to be induced. Even after 8 hours of pitocin I was only .5 cm further along and I was sure his due date had to be wrong. Turns out his due date was right after all, and once we finally convinced him to be born he has been an absolute joy.
We came home from the hospital on New Year's Eve, and here is our boy just hanging out on New Year's Day.

Sam's first two nights at home he only wanted to sleep if someone was holding him, so it equaled about 3 hrs cumulative sleep each night for me. Since then though he has been content to sleep in his bassinet for about two hours at a time in between feedings and wakefulness, so I'm up to about 6 hours total per night and feeling good. My body has recovered much more quickly this time, it's pretty remarkable how it just knows what to do. All that really remains of my pregnancy is a little extra weight and some stretch marks. But that's okay, today I was looking at them and Thomas told me they're sexy like tiger stripes. Bahaha. I love my husband.

One of my biggest concerns about our new life was how Andrew would transition, but it has gone better than I could have hoped for. Andrew is still sleeping through the night, not having too many extra tantrums, and is growing more eager to interact with Sam each day. He likes to push Sam's swing, put the pacifier in Sam's mouth, bring me clean diapers and throw the dirty ones in the trash. He already seems so much older.
Today was the first time he said "I Love You". I know he was just repeating it since I had just said it to him, but I pretty much bawled my eyes out with happiness.
Our little family and our new life feel so right. Just when I think life can't get any better, it does.
It reminds me of the little primary song I sing to Andrew... I love Daddy, he loves me. We love Andrew and Sammy. They love us and so you see, we are happy family.

No baby yet, just croup and Christmastime

2010-12-19T18:25:00.003-07:00

I thought this baby might come early since Andrew was born at 39 weeks, but I haven't dilated any more in the last two weeks. I am happy to report I am feeling great still, otherwise I might be tearing my hair out and screaming for induction. I am also thankful the baby didn't come last week because Andrew had croup. For about five days everyone was pretty miserable, and things could have been a lot trickier had there been labor, delivery, and care of a newborn thrown into the mix.
The whole month of December Thomas has been on break from school and had a light work schedule so he is home the majority of the time. Sitting around enjoying Christmas music, lights and decorations around our apartment, baked goodies, and holiday movie marathons as a complete family has made it feel like Christmas has been extended this year. As I become more and more great with child, my thoughts continuously turn to Mary. I think about the days before her son was born. Instead of lounging on a comfy couch with a mug of hot chocolate she was riding cross-country on a donkey and told there was nowhere for her to sleep. There were circumstances that might have seemed intimidating or unfair, but from the way the scriptures explain it, she handled all that came to her so gracefully. I think it helped that she knew she was carrying the Son of God, but maybe being patient and guileless and obedient and pure was just the kind of person she chose to be when she woke every morning.
Anyway, I hope everyone's week is off to a lovely start. Hooray for Christmastime.

A day my life changed forever: Andrew's birth story

2010-12-11T19:22:00.007-07:00

As the time to deliver baby boy #2 draws closer, I keep reminiscing what it was like when Andrew was born. I don't think I recorded the details of his birth anywhere, so I'm doing it here, before I have a second experience and begin to mix up the two. I definitely am giving the long version. It's most likely boring to anyone but me so I don't expect anyone else to read it. It also may have details you find gross to be sharing on a public website. Consider yourself warned. :)
Before Andrew was born I was working full-time teaching pre-school and got plenty of activity everyday and would come home and crash at night. I didn't feel terribly large or overburdened in the end, but I did have some nerve pain in my legs that would suddenly strike and leave me clutching for something to hold myself up on so I wouldn't fall. It made working interesting, but I was grateful to have an income right up until he was born rather than quitting several weeks early. We moved to student housing two weeks before Andrew's due date and I think that may have set things in motion because I spent the day moving things and running around doing errands a lot more than I should have. At my doctor's appointment the next day, however, I showed no signs of preparing for labor. Two days after that (Friday) I shed the mucous plug and knew that even though it still might be a few days away, things had definitely gotten started.
When I went to work on Monday I was miserable. Somehow my body had changed overnight. I felt slow and nauseous and generally unwell, but in a different way than I ever had before. My director, an experienced mother, said she could visibly tell that the baby had dropped over the weekend and sent me home to try to get feeling better, acknowledging that she didn't think I'd be back until I had a babe in arms.
I felt unwell the rest of the day and was planning on going to bed early and trying to go to work the next day, but at around 2 in the morning I was awakened by extreme tightening in my belly. I wondered if it was a real contraction, but seeing as it was the first time, I wasn't sure. It didn't hurt, it just felt like pressure. The contractions lasted from then through the sunrise, coming about every twenty or thirty minutes. Even though it didn't hurt yet, and that point I assumed I felt like it was probably the real thing and knew I wouldn't be going to work. Thomas had to work that day (Tuesday) so he left his cell phone on loud and clear in his pocket so I could reach him if necessary, and I was left alone for the day with my contractions consistently coming, just not much closer together. At 4 pm they finally started to hurt and were coming more like ten minutes apart. Thomas came home from work around 5 and we just paced around the rest of the night. Things got more painful, but they were still 10 minutes apart when I tried to go to bed. Finally at 11pm I thought I was going to go crazy. The contractions hurt quite a bit, but not so badly that I couldn't speak during them, and were about 7 minutes away from eachother. I called the on-call doctor to ask what I should do, she asked how long they had been happening, and said "You should come to the hospital. Right now. Don't wait."
Thomas and I got my bag, grabbed the carseat to install (we had done it once before, then taken it out for some reason), and headed outside. That was the last time I felt real pain. The whole drive to the hospital and the long walk in (we had never been there and accidentally parked far away) I only contracted every 10 minutes or so and for some reason they didn't hurt anymore. I thought maybe it had all been false labor after all and I didn't want to be one of those girls who shows up several times at the hospital before it's really time. Just as I was turning around to go home, Thomas convinced me it was worth at least checking to see if I had any dilation at all. We walked into the emergency room since we didn't know where to go, and a nurse wheeled me over to labor and delivery. The whole time I was chatty and pain free, barely noticing contractions any more. The nurse who checked me was making pleasant small talk, then seemed genuinely surprised when she announced that I was dilated to a 5, maybe almost a 6, and that I would be staying. She then told me that based on my behavior, she also had guessed that I would be going back home, so it's a good thing we didn't trust my strange burst of being symptom free.
They strapped monitors to my belly, put in an iv thingy just in case I needed it in an emergency, and called the anesthesiologist to give me an epidural, something I had known I wanted for several months. The guy wasn't terribly warm, he was kind of stone faced and all business, but he invited Thomas to watch the procedure after finding out Thomas is in pharm school. Thomas used to have a terrible fear and queasiness over needles, and although he didn't faint this time, he said it was hard to watch my back swell up like a balloon. I didn't think getting the epidural hurt much, and it wasn't hard to stay still because I still wasn't feeling pain during contractions, just pressure. I think all the excitement must have had my adrenaline going, because it just seemed so strange that nothing had hurt for over an hour before medicine.
My epidural was a perfect placement and the nurse encouraged Thomas and I to try to get some sleep (it was now 1 am Wednesday) while we waited for me to dilate to a 10. Thomas was able to sleep on the couch, but I stayed awake the rest of the night. I was too excited to sleep and kept wondering what the delivery would be like and what my baby would be like. I finally reached 10 cm dilation at 6am since epidurals tend to slow things down, and the nurse gave me a choice. She said the baby wasn't stressed at all and I could try pushing, or I could wait until my regular doctor came in for the day at around 8:00. Since things were so relaxed I opted to wait for Dr. Gooch. I got a new nurse at shift change who was equally awesome, and we went back to the waiting game. My water still hadn't broken, another thing I was surprised about, and we planned to let that happen on its own. Dr. Gooch came into visit when he arrived at work. He made sure I was okay, let me know my water had just broken, and gave the go ahead to start pushing whenever. Since sometimes pushing takes a really long time, especially with a first baby, he said the staff would contact him at his office in the building next door when the baby started crowning or if there was an emergency. I know that some people hate the idea of the doctor not being there through the whole thing because it seems impersonal, but I really liked my Dr. and it didn't bother me that he wouldn't be there until a few minutes before delivery. So when I started to push, it was just the nurse, my husband, and me. I wasn't sure how to push since I was completely numb, which was how I wanted it, so I just guessed and did my best. The nurse said it was working and she thought the baby would be out within 45 minutes. She had me push with every other contraction for awhile, and in between we just chatted and laughed about random topics. After an hour passed I started pushing with every contraction, but wasn't making much progress. Another half hour passed and Dr. Gooch came in and said the baby's head seemed to have turned and it was making it hard for little boy to pass under my pubic bone. Poor thing was just banging his head over and over, but there was nothing to do but keep pushing until the baby moved the position of his head a bit or the force of pushing gave him no choice but to come out. They gave me an oxygen mask to inhale from in between pushes and I still had plenty of energy, but I was really wondering when this baby was going to arrive.
At 11:39 am on July 22, after about 35 hours of contractions and 2 hours and 15 minutes of pushing, Andrew was born. Thomas cut the umbilical cord (they asked if we had brought our own knife to use...um...nooooo), my boy cried for a moment, calmed down pretty quickly, and they let me see him and helped me hold him. He had a HUGE swollen lump on his head from where he had continuously bumped it and he was covered in bodily fluids still, but I thought he was adorable. Turns out the umbilical cord had wrapped his arm up toward his face, so that's another reason it took longer than expected to push him out, and also what caused me to tear pretty badly, but he was healthy as can be. He got an 8 on his first APGAR, a 9 on his second. I was so grateful that he was healthy and was in awe at how calm and relaxed everything was. Not once had things felt frantic. After I was stitched up and he was cleaned, they gave him back to me to try feeding him and he nursed for 40 minutes. After he was finished, they took him (and Thomas) off to the nursery for the first time and took me to a recovery room. Once again, I was too excited to sleep. I ended up eating and making phone calls for over almost two hours before I could calm down enough to rest. We had several visits from Thomas' friends from school, and then my mom arrived the next day from Salt Lake City. The nurse who had coached me through pushing even came to visit me on Friday, the day we left, which she said she normally doesn't do. She invited me to be on her kickball team and said what a great time she had with Thomas and me during delivery. :)
Everything had gone more smoothly than I had imagined and I had a wonderful hospital experience. My guess is the new baby will be born next weekend, and I know my previous delivery is kind of a lot to live up to, but I'm sure whatever comes up will be exciting and great in it's own way. We love Andrew like crazy and can't wait to see what joy and personality baby brother will bring to the family.

Here's Andrew, just moments after birth.

And here he is a few days later, all clean.

Lately

2010-12-05T19:26:00.007-07:00

A few weeks ago I gave Andrew his third haircut, but it was the first time I cut his floofy top hair that I had been using to give him a comb over hairstyle. He definitely looks older with a big boy haircut.

We had Thanksgiving with just our little family and it was deeeeelicious. Our favorite thing was the giant pan of oatmeal rolls.

Andrew didn't appreciate the feast quite as much as we did, but he was happy to eat corn, graham crackers, and chocolate banana cream pie.

At 37+ weeks, technically I'm full term now. On Friday when the doc checked me he said I am starting to dilate and the baby could come at any time. I think it will still be another week or two though.

Thomas has been home quite a bit recently as his work and school schedules got less demanding and Andrew loves all the extra attention from his dad, especially when they listen to music together.

Today we took some photos because Andrew wore his new church outfit from his Grandparents Barber. This is likely our last family picture before the new baby is born.
Tonight our hearts are full as we consider all of the blessings we have. November was lovely, and December is even better. Things aren't always perfect, but it's a wonderful life.

"If you don't like the weather...

2010-11-08T18:15:00.003-07:00

wait five minutes."
I've heard people say this phrase at least 30 times since we moved to Texas, and I know why they do. The week of Halloween there was a day with a high of 91 and we were stinky and sweaty at the ward party. Last week we had some days with highs in the 50s, which is characteristic of winter here. Now this week we'll have some highs in the upper 70s and even a couple low 80s. It's kind of crazy, but the weather is one of my favorite things about Texas.
Thankfully, today Andrew was dressed to meet anything Mother Nature gave us.

You should know his dad chose his outfit. And winter hats with chinstraps make great teethers.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T18:46:00.004-06:00

It's 8 o'clock and we have only had about 15 kids come trick or treating, whereas last year we probably had about 40 at this point. Oh well, at least I'm dressed up for the occasion. One dad even asked if it was okay to take pictures of me passing candy to his daughters because he liked my costume. It made me feel like it was worth the hour it took for me to make matching pumpkin hats for my family. That and the fact that Andrew looked pretty darn adorable when we took pictures of him earlier today.
Now that he's soundly sleeping, time to wait for more trick or treaters and cuddle on the couch with my hubby watching mildly scary movies on tv. (I can't handle the really scary ones)
Happy Halloween!

Uh-Oh! The last six days in pictures

2010-10-28T18:37:00.006-06:00

As of last week, Andrew's new favorite word is uh-oh. We tried to teach him to say "woah!" instead, but it didn't work.
Here's what we've been up to:

Saturday: We hosted a party to carve pumpkins and decorate Halloween cookies. The leftover cookies were supposed to go out to everyone we home and visit teach. Two plates got delivered. Uh-oh! We ate the rest.

Sunday: At 32 weeks, a lot of my clothes are too small. Uh-oh! My buttons kept popping open at church.

Monday: Thomas' new video game arrived in the mail. Uh-oh! So much for studying.

Tuesday: I made our matching pumpkin stem hats for the Trunk or Treat and Halloween. Uh-oh! Thomas will wear his at home, but doesn't want to be seen wearing it in public.

Wednesday: The great thing about a one year old is he is content to get one piece of candy at the Trunk or Treat and it lasts him the whole time. Uh-oh! Too bad he dropped his sucker about 30 seconds into the car ride home and screamed the rest of the way.

Thursday (today): While I made dinner Andrew walked around the kitchen for twenty minutes throwing things across the floor just so he could yell uh-oh each time and go pick them up. Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!

p.s. Our camera is capable of taking better pictures, I just don't know how to do it. The picture from inside the church has normal coloring. The ones from inside our apartment look dim and cruddy. What do I need to change when I take pictures at home?

the boy who toddles, some of the time

2010-10-17T19:19:00.007-06:00

Andrew took his first steps about a month ago. We whipped out the camcorder and lured him around with forbidden items such as the cell phone, nail clippers, and a computer mouse. By the end of the day he was taking up to ten steps at a time. I thought he would a full-time walker by the end of the week. Now a month has passed, he will be 15 months old next week, and he is still using crawling as his main mode of transport. I get a bit frustrated at times as I wonder when he's going to make the transition, but I'm trying not to worry about it. He'll do it when's he's ready, and I already know he's capable, he just picks and chooses when he wants to walk.

So technically he's a toddler now, and even though it hasn't meant running all over the place quite yet, it has meant more whining and the introduction of tantrums. He learns a lot of new things everyday and I think he's frustrated because he knows what he wants but he can't quite express it or get it done by himself. We see a grumpy face a lot more frequently than we used to, but he sure is a handsome little devil.

This is the look that precedes the pouty lip, which precedes full-on crying

There are a lot of fun things about toddlerhood though. He likes to go down the slide by himself at the playground. He pretends he's a cowboy and bounces on our backs and on the backs of his stuffed animals.

Here he is between bounces, riding on Hippo like it's a horse

He is starting to try to repeat what we say; today he said "Amen" for the first time at the end of the dinner prayer. He goes to sleep at naps and bedtime like a champ after we read him a story and give him a drink of water. In so many ways he is becoming less of a baby and more of a little boy. Maybe he knows he will be getting a baby brother soon. I am over 30 weeks along and am down to doctor's appointments every two weeks.

Things have been really smooth and uncomplicated for me this pregnancy, which is such a relief. Thomas is plugging away at school and his two part-time jobs. Andrew spends much of the day either outside or by the door begging to "go-go ow-ty" (translates to "go outside). We all have our frustrations, but overall, things are moving along pretty well and we have a lot to be grateful for.

playing peekaboo in the curtains

p.s. The weather in October is amazing. It's perfect for long walks. Or lots of crawling. Whichever you prefer.

Two Halves

2010-09-20T18:22:00.008-06:00

make a whole.

We like to make homemade pizza together. Can you guess which side belongs to which Barber?

Thomas and I celebrated our five year anniversary about a month ago. We didn't get to go on a fancy vacation like a lot of our friends have done, but we did happen to be visiting my in-laws so we were able to do more together than we usually do. We went on a breakfast date to Old West Cafe in Sanger, TX. From the front, it looked like the ceiling might fall down and you might get mugged by real outlaws if you were to go in, but the food was incredible. We had omelettes, almond french toast,bacon, and biscuits with sausage gravy. In the afternoon we took Andrew with us to buy Thomas new clothes for work. After Andrew went to bed, we went to get haircuts. Thomas looked like this before his cut (he asked me to straighten his hair to see how long it was).
I looked like this after my haircut (I donated my hair to locks of love).
It was a fantastic anniversary.
There are a lot of things I enjoy about Thomas, but here are a few I'm thinking about right now.
1) A few days ago I heard him doing a work phone call, speaking with an old woman. She was a stranger, they were supposed to be talking about pharmacy stuff, and instead she was telling him about her granddaughter's birthday party (she was speaking so loudly into her phone that I could hear her from across the room). My heart melted at how patient and sweet he was, and what genuine interest he expressed in their conversation. Senior citz go gaga over Thomas.
2) Recently I was drinking orange juice when he was telling a story. I laughed so hard I snorted the juice out my nose. Instead of making fun of me, he hastened to clean up the mess as I hastened to the bathroom to stop the burning sensation in my nostrils.
3)He is frugal like I'm frugal. For our big five year anniversary I got him new pillows for our bed to replace the flat, drool-stained ones we've had since our wedding. He got me ten new sets of underwear. That's hot.
4) The other day he pulled out the guitar and I was remembering how he thinks he's not very good at playing and singing so he was always shy about it when we were dating, and still shy about it after we got married. He once confessed that he learned Question by Old 97's (a song I love, love) to play for me when he proposed, but he chickened out and left it out of the proposal. He also confessed that he learned Forever by Ben Harper (another song I love, love) to play for me at our wedding reception, but he chickened out for that as well. I kind of like how he's so shy about all of it, because it makes it that more special when I receive a performance.

For some reason, he's not shy about playing for Andrew

This is the day we had our engagement photos taken

Thomas and I may not have everything in common, but we have what counts, and the last five years have gone too quickly. Good thing we have forever. Not a day less will do.

Christmas Waffles and Liquid Gold

2010-09-16T20:07:00.003-06:00

Ever since I can remember, my Grandma Kelly has made her special waffles on Christmas morning. I looked forward to it all year as one of the best things about Christmas. Now that I'm older, I appreciate that I can make them whenever I'd like. And to go with these magnificent waffles, you might like a syrup recipe. The friend who gave me this calls it liquid gold. Just thinking about it makes me salivate. And gain weight. Seriously, people go nuts when they try this syrup. Here are the recipes.

Grandma Kelly's Waffles
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup oil
1 and 1/2 cups milk
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 3/4 cups flour
Directions: First separate the eggs and beat egg whites until stiff. Then add sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, and oil. Mix briefly. Add milk, baking powder, salt, and flour and mix again. Spray waffle iron generously to avoid sticking, bake in waffle iron about 3 minutes.

Liquid Gold Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 Tbsp light karo syrup

1/2 tsp baking soda
1tsp vanilla

Directions: Combine all ingredients except vanilla in saucepan, stir frequently over medium heat. Once mixture is boiling, boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Immediately remove from heat and mix in vanilla. Let sit for a few minutes before serving.

a perfect day

2010-09-14T17:59:00.004-06:00

Years from now I want to remember what's good about right now, everyday things that I know I'm going to miss after this stage of my life has passed. Here's a day we had last week.

It wasn't perfect because I slept in. It was perfect because Andrew woke up before seven like he always does and Thomas didn't have to work until ten, so we had a few hours to play all together and spend time as a family.
It wasn't perfect because there were no messes to clean. It was perfect because Andrew and I went outside and played with mud and rocks and sticks for an hour and a half and became ridiculously filthy.
It wasn't perfect because there were no chores to do. It was perfect because I had five chores on my to-do list and I was able to complete all of them.
It wasn't perfect because we went out to a restaurant for dinner. It was perfect because I used chicken and rice and garlic and broccoli and mushroomy cream sauce, all things we had on-hand, to make a casserole that was inexpensive and still tasted really good.
It wasn't perfect because Thomas and I found a sitter and went on a swanky hot date. It was perfect because we talked and laughed and cuddled and talked some more when we should have been trying to go to sleep.

Sometimes it's easy to look to the future and think "life will be so great when...". But then there are the times when right now feels just right. And its seems like the more frequently I put effort into focusing on the little things that go just right during any given day, the more often that perfect days come around.

Boys Will Be Boys

2010-08-25T11:37:00.004-06:00

Little boys seem to find all kinds of ways to get themselves into a pickle. And now that I'll have TWO BOYS 17 MONTHS APART to wrangle, I'll probably get used to all kinds of injuries. I'm just crossing my fingers that the next time I visit Seton hospital it will be to give birth, not to get Andrew examined.
On August 13th (Friday the 13th, mind you) Andrew was sitting in the child seat of the grocery cart and stuck his foot through the little slot next to where it was supposed to be. A slot that was about an inch and a half across. "How?", people ask me. I don't know. It should be physically impossible. That's why it took me about 10 seconds to realize I wasn't going to be able to get him out. I went to customer service and asked if the teenage guy could get me some butter or vaseline to use as lubricant and help me wiggle Andrew free. He kind of freaked and got his manager, a super cool guy named Stoney who we already knew from our multiple trips each week to pick up odds and ends at the store. Stoney and I tried our best, but Andrew's leg wouldn't budge. Then it started to swell, which is when Andrew started screaming at the top of his lungs. Customers gathered around to gawk and point. Two people called 911, one per mine and Stoney's request, one because I think she just wanted a reason to call 911. I didn't cry, shout, or react at all really. I just decided it would be best to be calm and wait for the firefighters to cut him out. One gawker got mad at me "You don't even seem upset!" I decided to ignore her. Another gawker was super nice and said, "What can I do for you right now?" I asked her to try calling Thomas since he hadn't answered on my first attempt. I explained he was studying for finals and likely not answering his phone, and also that I had our only car so he couldn't come quickly anyway even though we just live down the street from the store. She insisted that she would go pick him. I gave her careful directions (student housing is tricky) and she went to get him. He says she knocked on the door and said, "I'm ____. I need to take you to your son, but he's okay". Thomas grabbed his shoes and they sprinted to her car. She explained on the way over. Meanwhile, the firefighters came and clipped the cart apart to free Andrew. Thomas got there right after they finished and they had us promise to take him to get his leg x-rayed, but didn't think it would be necessary to take him in an ambulance. We agreed, and spent the afternoon in the ER. His leg was fine since he was seated during the incident and didn't have enough room to twist his body around and snap the bone. No harm done except some small bruises, a co-pay, and a nervous mommy every time I put him in the cart from now on.

Here is Roo with his ankle bracelet from the hospital. His left leg, the one without the bracelet, was stuck. See, you can't even tell he was close to becoming an amputee.

You've Got A Friend In Me

2010-08-08T19:34:00.003-06:00

For the last six months I have been taking care of a little boy named John while his mother works part time. He is six months older than Andrew and they have become best buddies. John's mother and I have both seen a noticeable difference in how John and Andrew interact with each other versus how they respond to other children they are in contact with. These two little guys have just clicked. They spend their days...

learning to be gentle with animals,

doing puzzles,

looking at books,

and riding the train,

along with many other activities. This week will be our last week with John and I'm sad to see it end. We plan on having playdates, but it won't be quite the same as spending eight hours a day, three days a week together. This has been a dream job for someone in my situation, and while I know it is the right decision to move on to different things, I will miss watching my son play with his first real friend.

Party like it's your birthday

2010-08-01T19:23:00.005-06:00

Andrew had two birthday celebrations, both pretty relaxed. I figured the less stress, the more enjoyable his birthday would be, especially considering I'm not sure how I'll feel on any given day.
Andrew's birthday was the 22nd, a Thursday. Since Daddy Thomas was not going to be home 'til after bedtime, we did cake and presents at breakfast.
The rest of the day was spent sharing cake with neighbors, playing outside with mosquitoes, and playing inside with new toys and with credit cards. We ended the day with a bubble bath and birthday mohawk.
On Saturday, the extended family came down from Krum to celebrate. We ate at Katz' Deli where Andrew devoured a giant pancake and shared a milkshake with Grandpa Jim (who refuses to be called grandpa and prefers the name "Blue Laser". We'll see how well that works as time passes).Andrew was showered with even more gifts, including an adorable pair of cowboy boots. And he basked in the static glory of the balloons he begs for each time we go grocery shopping.
Later on we ordered pizza, gave Andrew more birthday cake, and took turns giving him rides in his new wagon. By nighttime he was happy and exhausted. Thanks to all those who sent birthday greetings. We had a fantastic time!

525,600 Minutes

2010-07-16T18:58:00.020-06:00

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
moments so dear.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

six hundred minutes,

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights,

in sunsets,

in midnights,

in cups of (breastmilk),

in inches,

in miles,

in laughter,

in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand

six hundred minutes,

How do you measure
a year in the life?

How about love?

Measure in love,

Seasons of love.

Happy Birthday, Little Guy. It's been the best year we've ever had.

"Seasons of Love" lyrics by Jonathan Larson, Rent

I Get By With A Little Help From My Boy

2010-06-24T18:12:00.007-06:00

Andrew is 11 months. Only a few more weeks until the big birthday. He is crawling faster, coasting along furniture more, getting some top teeth, and trying to help me around the house.
As I was preparing the homemade hot pockets last night, he was grabbing ingredients from the open pantry cupboard and handing them to me, very pleased with himself. Here he is as my sous chef.
He also enjoys helping me fold the laundry. We laugh and play peekaboo as I toss clothes over his head and he puts them on my head, too. Laundry used to be my least favorite chore, but it's actually kind of fun now that I have my helper.
Today we went to the University of Texas Children's Research Lab because Andrew was invited to be in a study for infant musical development. It was interesting to hear about the research and I felt proud of my boy seeing his responses to the different stimuli. Anytime we go out in this Texas heat, it's important to cool off when we come home. Here we are sharing a popsicle, his new favorite treat. Oh Roo, this year is going too fast.

A Few Good Men

2010-06-20T19:42:00.007-06:00

My current assignment at church is to prepare the weekly bulletin that is passed out immediately prior to our three hour session. It includes who is speaking, which hymns will be sung, and announcements for upcoming events. Sometimes I include quotes, especially for holidays. For Mother's Day there seemed to be hundreds of inspirational quotes to choose from, but for Father's Day it was about 100x more difficult to find something that really gave enough credit to the incredible role that a good father fills in the lives of those around him. I thought it was kind of sad that a dad's role as a parent is so often overlooked in comparison to motherhood.
Not to diminish the magnificence of a mother, here are my thoughts on a few good men.
I have two amazing Grandpas. One is my Grandpa Sam, pictured holding Andrew in my previous blog post. He is the hardest worker I know and was always the most fun grandpa around. The other kids in my neighborhood frequently told me they were jealous that I had a grandpa who would dance and laugh and play hide and seek. At 72 years old, Grandpa Sam can still beat everyone to the top when we go hiking.
My other Grandpa is my Grandpa Nelson. He passed away of cancer when my mom was 11, but I enjoy hearing stories about the cheese factory he owned in Wisconsin and his wicked sweet guitar skills. My mom always told us growing up that he was the one who took care of us in heaven before we were born. :)
Another man dear to my heart is my Dad. He would sneak us out of the house to get slurpees when we were supposed to be cleaning our bedrooms. I've lost count of how many youth sports teams he has coached, even while he was serving as a Bishop. He shows a selfless heart when he sees complete strangers in need. He is even better at being a grandpa, and Andrew will have so many fond memories over the years. Here they are enjoying the zoo a few weeks ago while we were in Utah.
The father I cherish most is the father of my son. Thomas' ability to interact with kids has always been one of my favorite things about him. Whether it was helping me babysit my five energetic cousins overnight, or being the assigned buddy at church to a child with autism, Thomas has always been patient and fun. Andrew loves him like crazy and follows him everywhere. A morning isn't a morning without carefully watching Daddy shave and put on his shoes and socks. With Thomas as a father, I am confident that Andrew will see and learn what it means to be a good man. Happy Father's Day!

Barefoot

2010-06-11T18:37:00.006-06:00

and pregnant

12 weeks

due Christmas Eve

This was confirmed today as I saw New Baby (as opposed to Baby, who is Andrew) dancing on the ultrasound screen at my first prenatal appointment.
I found out I was pregnant the evening of Andrew's 9 month appointment, the one where I went home feeling overwhelmed and couldn't stop crying. We went to pick up Andrew's iron supplement at the pharmacy and realized I was late and should probably also get a pregnancy test. At that point, we couldn't resist giggling the rest of the way home, laughing as I took the test, and beaming after we went to bed. Because just when you think you might have too much on your plate, something else will probably come up.
Sometimes I feel like whining because I'm exhausted, throwing up several times a day is disgusting, and we're already about as poor as church mice, but then I remember I didn't plead with God everyday for a couple years for a baby just to complain when he gives me another blessing. And that's what New Baby is. An unexpected blessing.
Although I'm sure it will be difficult having two kids less than a year and a half apart, I love thinking about the friendship I hope they'll share. I love to see the smiling faces of our supporters as we give the good news.
I love seeing these two interact, knowing this little family of mine is a miracle and that we can be together forever.
And I love the way I already feel my heart expanding along with my belly, making room for one more. Love you, New Baby. See you in about 6 months.

Make new friends, but keep the old

2010-06-09T19:35:00.004-06:00

The primary reason for my trip to Utah was to celebrate with my friend Genevieve as she married her true love. Genevieve is one of the most incredible people I know. Our friendship began the first day of seventh grade sitting across from each other in English class. This friendship continued through high school, and despite her moving across the country for college, we remained friends and every time we speak it's like no time has passed at all. Over the years she has grown to be even more beautiful, sincere, and compassionate than back in our school days, and it was an honor to be a part of her wedding. The fact that I participated with our other dear friends Hillary and Elisa made it even sweeter. The four of us have spent countless hours together baking cookies, studying (or pretending we were studying) for tests, and singing N Sync at the top of our lungs, it was only fitting that we reunite for the best day of Genevieve's life.

Thomas refers to my middle school and high school years as the "Ugly Betty Stage," which I think is a reasonably fair assessment. Nice girl, but pretty awkward most of the time.
I was never an all-star athlete, the queen of popularity, or the one who had boys lining up at her door, but I look back on high school with incredible fondness, and it's mostly thanks to these ladies. I love you, girls, and I always will. Hope to see you again soon.

catch up

2010-06-05T21:42:00.005-06:00

We've had a lot going on. Thomas finished up another semester of school. Andrew is growing in leaps and bounds. We went on a 5 day vacation to Thomas' parents' house in Krum. Andrew and I went to Utah for 8 days to attend my friend Genevieve's wedding and visit family.
Hopefully I can do a few blog posts over the next few days to catch up.

The transition from nine to ten months was huge for Andrew. He learned to pull up to standing, clap, use his stacking cups, wave, and crawl, just to name a few. The fact that he can follow us around changes things- we're talking "crawls to bathroom door fussing and pushes the door open, because mom and dad aren't even allowed to use the toilet in peace" kind of behavior. But overall this new found mobility is fun for everyone and it is exciting to see Andrew grow and progress.
Getting ready for our trips was a busy time because I still nanny three days a week and was trying to fit in grocery shopping, dr. appts, various applications, and other things in between. My bridesmaid dress for my friend's wedding arrived in the mail a few days before we went to Krum. Here is the first time I tried it on.

Then we were off to Krum to spend a few days with Thomas' family and have my mother in law's best friend alter my dress. The most memorable parts of the trip were Andrew torturing the cats, watching Fantastic Mr. Fox (I swear whoever made that movie was on drugs), and my bridesmaid dress getting skunked.
The night before I picked up the dress from the lady who altered it, her dogs basically caught and killed a skunk in the garage. This filled her entire house with skunkiness, including my lovely dress. The next several days consisted of a variety of methods used to remove or mask the scent in a dress that is 1) the most expensive clothing item I've ever owned besides my wedding dress and 2)made of extremely damageable fabric and netting. Speaking of the dress, it was/is beautiful and I hope it can get more use. If anyone needs to borrow a formal, let me know. Just so you're aware, it no longer smells like skunk. :)
And that leads us up to our Utah trip, with more details come of visiting relatives, a beautiful wedding, a photo shoot, and Andrew's first time at the zoo.

Motherhood on Me

2010-05-09T19:50:00.004-06:00

Cjane has been doing a segment called Motherhood on Me. I've really enjoyed reading her take on things, as motherhood really is different on every woman. On some it seems overwhelming, on some it seems as natural as breathing.
Here is a sample of motherhood on me. 4/21/10. A fairly typical day. No make up. Wild hair. Dark spots under my eyes from not getting quite enough sleep. Snot on my shirt from a little face burrowed in deep. Celebrating that Daddy made it home for the evening by whipping out the camera. A few precious minutes together just trying to appreciate what we have.
It was a day filled with diapers, laughing, and squishing up pinto beans so the baby wouldn't choke on them. It was a day filled with concern as I found out little Andrew was anemic and might have to go physical therapy if he doesn't learn to pull up by mid-June.
The truth is he is probably just fine. The doc was very clear about that. But I cried anyway. Because I love him. Because I would give my life for his if that's what it took.
Smiles and tears, worry and euphoria, all in a day's work. That's motherhood on me.
Happy Mother's Day, you beautiful women. Whether motherhood on you is a van bursting with a half dozen kids, or the deepest wish of your heart not quite yet fulfilled, your commitment and sacrifices change the world for the better.

Ironman

2010-04-23T19:29:00.003-06:00

Andrew had his 9 month check up on Wednesday. Turns out he is anemic. Apparently it is fairly common among exclusively breastfed infants to be iron deficient, but I was upset. For a few minutes I felt betrayed, like what I thought was the most wonderful gift I could give my baby was actually a disservice and threat to his health. Then I got over it, remembered that breastfeeding is great, and resigned myself to the fact that it's okay that he has to drink a nasty baby vitamin supplement everyday. And it's okay that whenever we give it to him our whole apartment seems to smell like blood for 30 minutes (insert Twilight joke here.)

Milestones from the last month include cutting his first tooth and saying Dada and Mama all day long. He doesn't know what they mean yet, but it is music to my ears.
The ability to feed himself translates to 30-45 minute mealtimes just to down a small handful of cheerios and a quarter of a banana, but he seems pretty pleased. He even takes the liberty of styling his hair with the leftovers.In regards to my most recent post, Thomas and I did some spring cleaning and rearranged our furniture. I feel much better about our living space and more motivated to keep it looking nice. I figured out a day by day cleaning routine that suits my schedule now that I work 3 days a week. I also followed through with giving some stuff away to goodwill and buying a few new shirts. Thanks for all the helpful comments. I'm so grateful to Thomas for helping with this mini-transformation. And for bringing me flowers. Awesome.

For my hermanito

2010-04-18T16:40:00.005-06:00

Today is my younger brother Daniel's 25th birthday. That's right. I just turned 26 about ten days ago, and now he's 25. That age difference was completely intentional, and my mom is a very brave woman. Here are a few things I love about my brother.
1) He and I always had someone to play with growing up. My mom says we used to build the celestial kingdom (heaven) out of legos when we were pre-school age. Here we are looking pretty darn cute.
2) If you needed it, he would give you the shirt off his back. Literally. He really loves any excuse to be as naked as is socially acceptable. And sometimes socially unacceptable. ;)
He's also very generous. He would drop everything to help his family and friends with whatever they need.
3)He's always been a ladies man. He showed up to my wedding with two dates, twins, one on each arm. I'm so happy he ended up with Nicole. She's an awesome sister in law (and way better than some scary twin).

4) He's serving our country in the Air Force National Guard. He is one of the few people I know who isn't doing it primarily for the tuition reimbursement and other financial benefits. He joined because he genuinely wants to help protect his country.
5) He is an excellent uncle. He lovingly refers to Andrew as "Chewy Monster" and randomly calls to make sure Andrew is doing okay.

6)And number 6 is from Thomas: HE HAS HUGE BICEPS WHICH HE USES TO KEEP TERRORISTS AWAY FROM THE U S OF A, AND ALSO CAN GROW A SWEET STACHE WHENEVER HE WANTS.
Here's a picture from three years ago of one of those 'staches. You can tell how much I approve, but Thomas may actually be jealous of my brother's facial hair/crazy hairstyles. Dan is a party animal.
Happy Birthday, Dan. We love you.

Get It Together

2010-04-13T12:24:00.003-06:00

I need to find a way to get it together.
I've been laying awake at night thinking about it, but I'm not really sure how to start.
I want to feel classy on a day to day basis. I want to have my house in a state that I'm not embarrassed when someone randomly shows up to say hello.
I don't think I'm depressed, I just know that I'm living in a way that's sloppy, and I think am capable of more than this. I'm happy, but how much happier could I be if I just gave the everyday routine a little more effort?
I have a few ideas for this week to get things going. 1) I'm going to go through my clothes and try to weed out things that are not the right size, old, or just generally unflattering. I think dressing better will help the way I feel. Giving stuff away should also help de-clutter my closet and make my house one step closer to organization. 2) I'm going to buy a new shower curtain and some special cleaning products to take care of the mold that seems so prevalent in student housing bathrooms. I've been too tired and unmotivated to deal with it, but enough is enough. 3) My home decor could use some improvement. This week I'm going to go to Ross and use some birthday money to replace the picture frame on the entertainment center that's been broken for 8 months.
I hope that taking things one week (and day) at a time and seeing some progress will help keep me going. I also hope my motives are pure, not just sparked by comparing myself to other women whose looks and homes seem so perfect.
How do you keep your home clean and organized? How do you find the desire to keep your appearance tidy when you don't have any special plans and might not even leave the house at all?

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2010-04-10T20:12:00.007-06:00

No, not Christmas. My birthday. And this year was the best ever. I love my family. I love my friends. Thanks to everyone who wrote to me and called me. I felt so valued. For the sake of remembering, here's what happened:
First, my parents came out to visit the last week of March. Let's be honest, they weren't here to see me. They were here to see Andrew. (Below is the only photo I took while they were here. In fact, every photo from the last two weeks has Andrew in it.) My parents met the little boy I nanny. We ate dinner at Magnolia Cafe. We watched sappy movies on the Hallmark Channel. We took leisurely walks in the mid 70 degree weather. We celebrated my birthday the day before they left with Strawberry Shortcake and yoga presents. It was fantastic.

The weekend before my birthday we went to my in-laws' house in Krum. Thomas' mom planned a party for me on Friday. We ate take out dinner from Carino's (I got the Bowtie Festival. It tasted incredible) and McKenna made me an Angel Food Cake Waldorf. Saturday I participated in the family's annual Easter Egg Hunt, which is designed for adults and the eggs are worth cash. I didn't find a single egg, so my father-in-law pointed one out to me because he felt bad. Maybe next year. :) Andrew enjoyed his first Easter basket, especially the confetti/grass in the bottom that lured over the kitten.

On Saturday and Sunday we watched General Conference. Andrew was terrified of President Packer, but he flirted with the screen when the primary lady was speaking. He also watched with rapt attention every time the choir sang. Here he is riding home on Easter Sunday.

My actual birthday was awesome. I got up to nurse the baby, but then Thomas played with him so I could go back to bed and until 9:00. While Thomas was at school I made tomato basil bread with my new kitchen aid mixer (!!!) and when he came home we cut it with my new Wusthof bread knife. We made sandwiches and smoothies. Andrew's smoothie was mixed with pureed greenbeans, so it looked rather unappetizing all over his face.

Just then, my friend Christine showed up at the door with flowers.

Later, we went to Cornucopia Gourmet Popcorn Shop where I chose two new flavors to eat during the movie we rented. The next day I got a massage at Viva Day Spa thanks to a gift certificate from my friend Jackie. The massage was my first from a professional and felt so luxurious. (Unfortunately, I can't afford to go again for a long time. Fortunately, my husband's massages are on par with the pro. Thomas really is that good.)

Andrew got his first tooth on Sunday and has been pretty grumpy for some of the celebration, but you know, it doesn't really matter. Because I am his mother and my birthday wish for the past several years came true. I hardly know what to wish for next. Bring on 26.

Lucky Number Eight

2010-03-24T11:46:00.005-06:00

Eight has always been my favorite number. I loved being eight years old because I was baptized into my church. I loved being eighteen; freshman year of college was one of the best years of my life. My favorite grade to teach is third grade when they're eight years old. My birthday is on the eighth of April. I got married the eighth month of 2005. Eight is good to me.
Now Andrew is eight months old. He's good to me, too.

My parents are visiting and my dad is convinced that Andrew thinks he's a bird rather than a boy. He seems to try to flap his arms a lot more than move on the floor. But he is rocking around when he hears music (my new favorite thing) and also does what we call "the caterpillar dance" by shoving his bum in the air and trying to get his knees underneath him, so I think he's trying to build core strength for whenever he does become mobile.

He grabs everything he's not supposed to- important things like Dad's glasses, sharp objects like forks, expensive items like laptops and cameras. We're constantly finding our home is not as baby proof as we thought.

He still loves laughing and hollering with his dad, snuggling with his mama, and flirting with the ladies. We still love him to pieces. Eight is great.

Secret Thomas Post!

2010-03-14T23:29:00.006-06:00

I have hacked into my wife's blog at 1am to share a bit of the last 19 hours of my life:

Hour 1: Installing Windows 7 (yeah, it is Sunday but imma just pop this CD in and it will do its thang)

Hour 3: Still trying to figure out the BIOS for a "custom install" (I will read scriptures in a minute)

Hour 6: Oh, I am going from a 32-bit to 64-bit: this is the issue (Man, church was great, but this is waaay more important)

Hour 8: Yay, its workin...wait...I have no sounds

Hour 9:Man this sound is nice I...wait...I cant turn off this touchpad...or adjust the volume

Hour 12:WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DONT HAVE PERMISSION TO INSTALL...I AM THE ONLY ADMIN

Hour 15:RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRRR!

Hour 16: After going through 23982370987 webpages for hofixes and "unofficial drivers" to patch everything up AND picking up an equal amount of viruses and trojans I am finished!

Hour 19: I might have to reinstall Windows...

Moral of the story: Always have an exceedingly expensive computer so you don't have to upgrade...ever.

Bringing Home The Bacon

2010-03-11T03:02:00.003-07:00

or at least some of it.
I started a part-time job for a few reasons. 1) I thought it would nice to get out of the house more often. 2) Student loans are kind of miserable. 3) I found the best job ever.
On March 1 I started work as a part-time nanny for a one year old boy. Andrew is fascinated by him and I really feel it is the perfect situation. Not only is Andrew able to come with me, I get compensated better than I thought I would for this type of job. Both boys seem happy and I truly feel like my interactions with each child are of the same quality that they would be if I were one-on-one with them. I guess it helps that two kids seems like a cake walk after wrangling a room full of three-year-olds last year or a few years back when I was trying to teach math to 27 third graders who were a combination of ESL, special needs, and disgruntled home situations. Yeah, pretty sure I'm loving taking care of two babies who are content to sing, dance, go on walks to the park, and play peekaboo.
So that's what's new around here.
p.s. It is 4 am. Andrew just cried for 57 minutes before falling back asleep. Breaks my mother heart, but it will be better for both of us if he learns to sleep through the night again. Last night he woke up 3 times, and sometimes it is more frequent than that. If you're someone that disagrees with letting your child fuss at night, don't tell me. I already feel guilty enough.
p.p.s. You know the miserable student loans thing? I think I've come up with the perfect solution. I'm not the gambling type, so tomorrow I'm going to start figuring out how to apply for game shows. Seriously. I'm crossing my fingers to get on Wheel of Fortune or Family Feud. Or maybe I could visit Ellen, get cool audience prizes, then sell them on ebay. ;)

7 Months

2010-02-24T13:31:00.006-07:00

Another month has come and gone and here's the latest news: Andrew scoots in circles a couple times a day and is beginning to attempt getting up on his knees. Often decides relaxing is way better than working those muscles. Like mother, like son, I suppose.
This is Thomas' new favorite photo because it's how Andrew spends much of his day, on the floor, finding something to chew on. He especially enjoys gnawing on shoes. I use the word gnawing loosely though because I think gnawing implies teeth, which have yet to make an appearance.

Andrew's favorite time of the day is anytime his dad shows up to play with him. The boy laughs and squeals until his voice is hoarse.

And there you have it, in true mormon mommy fashion, the latest month by month tribute.

Andrew's Celebrity Doppelganger?

2010-02-11T14:07:00.003-07:00

Today we went and shopped the sales at Sprouts.

Now I think he understands how that chiquita banana lady must feel.

It's rough wondering if a pineapple's going to poke your eyes out. Fortunately I made it up to him by letting him play with plastic bags. You know, the kind with the warnings all over them that say to not let your child near them under any circumstances. He loved it. And I loved getting over 50 servings of fruit and vegetables for $12. I may not be as skilled as some of my coupon-chaser friends, but I sure try.

Eating my words

2010-02-05T15:01:00.002-07:00

Update on that cake. When I posted that night I think I didn't feel well and attributed it to the cake. When I tried it again the next day, it was the best cake ever. I eat my words. And lots and lots of chocolate cake. Try the recipe. You won't regret it.
And if you want to look at Whitney's beautiful cakes go here.

Have your cake and eat it too

2010-02-03T19:40:00.008-07:00

Amanda recommended this recipe to me, so I decided to make one cake for Thomas and me and one for Jackie's birthday. It's had excellent reviews and the recipe was well-written, but I'm not sure if I'll make it again for awhile. I am a chocolate fiend and it may have been too much chocolate for me. Perhaps the piece I ate was too big or maybe I should have offset it with vanilla ice cream. (Sidenote: While I was baking I was singing "Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake". Bill Cosby is one funny guy. And then I missed Elisa, because she and I used to watch that together.)(Other sidenote: My friend Whitney has started a cake business and she is AMAZING. An ace of cakes. A cake boss. If you or someone you know lives in the Las Vegas area and needs a cake for any type of occasion, I'll give you her contact info. For some reason I keep getting redirected when I try to get to her website right now)
In other news: -My neighbor gave me her old jogging stroller. Good thing I'm using it, because Relief Society basketball starts next month and I don't want to have a heart attack. I also notice I'm in a lot better mood on the days I exercise.
-I think Pink's performance was the best of the bunch at the Grammys.
-Thomas and I have been watching 2 or 3 episodes of LOST each day on Hulu. We love that show. Reminds me of Valentine's Day a few years ago when I turned our apartment into a jungle island and pretended to be Kate and let Thomas choose if he wanted to be Jack or Sawyer. ;)

New

2010-01-25T09:43:00.008-07:00

Here's the update on my new year's resolutions: 1)Sewing- uh...machine is still in the box...
2) Jogging- I've tried a few times. Going by myself wasn't as hard as I expected it to be, but when I tried pushing the baby was a different story. It was way too hard. The snap n go stroller plus car seat plus baby is somewhere close to 50 lbs I think. One day I pushed it while walking fast on the lake trail and it felt like I was running. So I need to either jog by myself or walk fast with Andrew. Goal this week is to go out three times.
3) Cooking- This weekend I tried out appetizer recipes and made gougeres and eggrolls with sweet and sour sauce. They were so good! The gougeres were for Andrew's half birthday party and they were a hit. I looked up the pronunciation on the internet and had fun pretending to speak french and laughing like the chef on Little Mermaid. But if you don't want to speak french you can just call them lumpy cheese balls like cousin John did. Yum!
I made the sweet and sour sauce and eggrolls for dinner last night. I served them with brown rice in an effort to be healthier.
So my cooking adventures have been a blast so far. I've also tried a few popcorn recipes to use the popcorn popper Thomas got me for Christmas. Almond toffee popcorn and BBQ popcorn are way better than plain old buttered popcorn. Oh, and just a suggestion, for the half birthday party I used a box mix for brownies and they were the best brownies I've ever baked. Usually if I get a box I buy Betty Crocker, but this time I got Pillsbury and it made a difference.
Here is one last picture for memory's sake.
Andrew has started eating more than just rice cereal. Here's the mess the bib doesn't catch, hence, the babe now eats in the nude. Kiddo loves vegetables but dislikes fruit so far. Crazy, I know.

Silly Boy

2010-01-22T14:12:00.001-07:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

six

2010-01-22T13:54:00.003-07:00

Six months ago we marveled at the greatest blessing our lives had ever known.

Today we feel the same. Happy six months, Little Baby Andrew Baby.

I Resolve

2010-01-02T22:48:00.005-07:00

New Year's Resolutions come and go. Like many people, I rarely stick with any come January 2nd, but I'm hoping that this year may be different.
In November Thomas and I were having a conversation about talents, part of a family home evening I think, when I commented that the things I do well aren't really things that can be displayed or performed or exhibited at whim. I already knew this about myself, but I thought it was kind of sad as we were talking about it. Thomas is a very sweet husband, and he sweetly began to guide the conversation instead toward encouraging me to try to learn something new. I agreed that maybe it would be the perfect time to try my hand at something new. Or a few things new.
So here's my list of things to work on.
Jogging- The most I've ever run in my life is five miles. I don't need to run a marathon, but I hope to beat my personal record and go at least six miles.
Cooking and Baking- Inspired by the film Julie and Julia, I will be cooking through a cookbook. Not every single recipe because that would require some serious cash, but at least one recipe from each section. Seems feasible enough.
Sewing- This one counts as a major something new. The last few years I have considered getting a sewing machine, but never did because I worried that I wouldn't actually end up using it. Now that I'm at home more often, my parents were kind enough to get me a sewing machine for Christmas. I'm excited to try it out and already have a few projects in mind. First on the list is hemming pants that I already don't count on as wardrobe staples. That way if I mess up, no harm done. I hope to work up to something a little cooler, like maybe a cloth road map for Andrew for Christmas next year that he could drive little hot wheels on. Hmmm.
So this year, I, Shiloh Louise Barber, resolve to try new things. New distances, new recipes, new sewing stuff. Maybe I won't become incredible at them, but I will be better than I am now. And that, my friends, will mean success.

Glee Finale Spoiler Alert

2009-12-10T12:06:00.003-07:00

When Glee was first advertised I thought it looked super cheesey and didn't think I would watch it. I love musicals and am often a fan of cheese, but for some reason it didn't appeal to me. A couple episodes in, though, I was hooked. My church assignment requires that I go to the church on Wednesday nights and I thought about Glee as I tried to fall asleep, wondering what had happened, which songs had been sung, and if the episode would be posted on Hulu yet for me to watch. I love the way they interpret the songs, I love the plot twists, and I love the variety of characters. It reminds me of high school in so many ways, good and bad. It's hard for me to pick a favorite character because they're all so interesting to me. I think I might identify with Rachel the most, not because I ever want to be the star, but because she throws herself into things emotionally, is peppy sometimes to the point of annoyance, had the high school crush who couldn't love her back, and sometimes worries too much about what other people think. Even though she kind of gets a bad wrap with the other teens, I might like her the best. And I have a mini-tv-crush on Mr. Shoe. So who's your favorite?
And now the finale. I got goosebumps several times. I was so glad that the club won sectionals- I thought that they might lose as a "You don't always have to win to be happy" type lesson, so I really was excited when they won. I was also super excited that crazy Sue got caught as a cheat. I cried last episode when Mr. Shoe found out his jerk wife was lying. She so did not deserve him and I thought that the acting in that scene conveyed the heat of the moment really well. I have always loved the cute school counselor, Emma, too. I did think it was inappropriate the way she flirted and cultivated her feelings toward a married man, but ... I liked her anyway. I did respect her during the finale when she said she couldn't talk to Mr. Shoe because he had just barely left his wife. I was like "Yay! Morals! He's not divorced yet and don't just be a rebound girl!" Then in the end, when he was running to kiss her I think my heart almost pounded out of my chest. It was so romantic and I loved the sighy breath at the end after the picture was gone. So I'm kind of conflicted about all that. He is technically still married. But I want those two to be together in the end. Ah man.
So what did you think? Did you like how all the secrets came out in the end? What do you think Finn will do now that he know's about Quinn and Puck? Do you think that Emma and Will have a chance? Do you wish there had been anything done differently in the finale?

Novembers

2009-12-03T16:53:00.008-07:00

Photo taken November 21st, 2008

Last November the week of Thanksgiving was special. For the third time, I found out I was pregnant. I was nervous and hopeful and could hardly imagine what the next year would bring. The week of Thanksgiving has come around again and my sweet baby turned four months old.
His days are mostly happy and he grabs a hold of anything he can lay those chubby little fingers on. He can roll over and is now sitting up in chairs that have a back.
And he can rock a tuxedo better than any Bond I've ever seen.
He lights up my life.
Happy four months, my darling sonny. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for you.

A Day In The Life

2009-11-11T17:55:00.003-07:00

Wake up, feeding time, cuddle time, singing time, back time, singing time, dishes time, tummy time, cuddle time, nap time, feeding time, reading time, back time, scrubbing bathroom time, tummy time, outside time, feeding time, cuddle time, nap time, feeding time, laundry time, swinging time, outside time, tummy time, reading time, singing time, cuddle time, nap time, feeding time, sweeping time, back time, cooking time, bath time, feeding time, cuddle time, bed time.
I quit one full time job to start another, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Rho Chi Banquet

2009-10-16T12:42:00.005-06:00

Last night was very interesting... remind me to never take my baby to a bar again.

When Thomas applied to the pharmacy school at the University of Texas, we both knew that it is one of the top 5 pharmacy programs in the country and it was possible that he wouldn't get in. Well, he did great in the interview, was accepted, and even though he knew it would be the most difficult of all the programs he had been accepted to, it would be worth it to stretch himself and would most likely land him a better job in the end. So he started pharmacy school and quickly realized it was SUPER hard. But Thomas is an overachiever in school, so when he heard about the Rho Chi Society, pharmacy's honor society for the top students in the class, he was determined to make Rho Chi. He did his best all year. He pushed his limits for sleep, food, and quality time spent with things other than books and his laptop. He did very well, but also heard from the deans constantly that his class was one of the most competitive classes that UT has ever had. Well about two weeks ago Rho Chi names were announced, and Thomas made Rho Chi. There was much celebration at the Barber household.
There was going to be a Rho Chi initiation banquet and spouses/significant others were invited to attend. Thomas and I debated whether or not I should go, but didn't know what to do about Andrew. We have no family in Austin, Andrew is still pretty young, and he doesn't take a bottle very well, all of which made it hard to find a babysitter. Thomas ended up asking if it would be appropriate to bring our baby and the organizer said it would be fine.
Flash forward to last night. We got dressed up in fancy duds and headed to the Cool River Cafe for the banquet. It turned out to be a ritzy bar with a banquet room in the back. As we weaved through a maze of tables and turns we reached the banquet room. It was incredibly formal and I realized we shouldn't have brought a baby. Oops. Then as we were eating, the baby started crying and couldn't be soothed. Oops again. He wouldn't take a bottle and I knew he was hungry so I meandered around trying to find a decent place to feed him but there was nowhere to be found. I finally had to go back through the maze, which was now a scene of blaring music, clouds of cigarette smoke, and scantily clad drunks who were indiscreetly commenting to their friends "Who the #*$% brings their baby to a bar!". Oops number three. It was miserable. I felt bad for my baby and was determined that we would spend the rest of the evening in the car. Thomas eventually came and got us and dragged us back to the banquet room. He took the baby, let me eat the delicious meal, and the baby didn't make a peep the rest of the night. Overall, I was glad we could go support Thomas, but I am NEVER going to try that again, and recommend that you never try it either.

Here are the three of us, relieved to have made it back home

Andrew meets great grandmother Marilyn and Uncle Drew

2009-10-14T13:20:00.002-06:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Saldivars come to Austin

2009-10-14T11:32:00.006-06:00

We went kayaking on Town Lake
We toured University of Texas campus and had to take a break from the heat. Andrew can't wait for the day he can drink a Jamba Juice.
We played dressups at the State Capitol.
And of course, the reason for the visit, sweet little Andrew was blessed at church. He wore the outfit my dad was blessed in and the blanket that I had wrapped around me at my blessing. Thanks for coming Mom, Dad, and Jeremy! To see a few more pictures, visit http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2290150&id=17828061&l=61aa88209c

Wedding Festivities

2009-10-12T18:42:00.008-06:00

Some exciting things have happened in the last few weeks. I guess I'll post about them one at a time for the next couple days. The most exciting is probably that Thomas' brother David married his high school sweetheart, Kara Wright. We packed up our things and made the four hour drive to Krum (Thomas' home town) to stay with the family and then went to the wedding the next day at the Dallas LDS temple. Pictured above are the bride and groom, our little family, and Andrew sniffing (and pulling out... oops) the flowers on the temple grounds. Congrats David and Kara!

Smiles All Around

2009-09-09T11:44:00.009-06:00

Right now the baby is sleeping. (In his swing, not his bassinet. I tried the bassinet twice before finally putting him in the swing. This whole not napping in his bed thing is so weird to me... but sleep issues can be a whole different post) So now I have the grand decision of whether to spend personal time on the computer or take a shower. Perhaps it isn't good that I am choosing the computer. ;)
Andrew is growing and changing so fast. Even though being a mom to a new baby is rough at times, these last 7 weeks have passed by too quickly. Andrew is outgrowing his clothes, sleeping a bit better than he used to (I can get a 4 hour stretch at night now), and he is so much more interactive. He started cooing and smiling consistently a week and a half ago and Thomas and I just can't get enough. Andrew usually pulls other funny faces when we whip out the camera, but here are the best smile pictures we've got.
Oh, and thanks for the love and support and comments on the facebook pictures. They always make my day. Hope you all are doing well.
Love,
Shiloh

Some Things Are Worth Waiting For

2009-08-11T19:43:00.004-06:00

My sweet boy,

Even though this is the most difficult time of my whole life, I am so happy. I think it's because you're mine. You were worth the wait.

Love, Mommy

Which day is it again?

2009-08-03T12:59:00.002-06:00

My sense of time is all wacky, but I'm pretty sure that today is Monday, and I'm pretty sure I have a bunch of new photos on facebook. Even without a facebook account you should be able to use the following link to see our photo album of Baby Andrew and what we've been up to the last week and a half.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2278273&id=17828061&l=d5c67ba16d

And now I'm gonna go take a nap.

It's Real. He's Here.

2009-07-27T10:10:00.006-06:00

Love At First Sight

One Happy Family

Andrew Thomas Barber
Born Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 11:39 am
7 lbs 6 0z and 20" long
Healthy, Handsome, Loving, Smart, Righteous, Charming...

Nesting

2009-07-18T23:10:00.017-06:00

Mother Nature gives me the urge to clean and get things in order at home before the baby comes. I think that urge for nesting is doubled when a person moves two weeks before their baby is due. We're not done moving in yet, but we have made some progress. Here are a few pictures of our "in between" stage as we've been here four and a half days. The top photo shows the kitchen, the only room where we have everything put away. In the dining area we have some art, two shelves, and a clock to put up on those walls. I also have curtains for the window, but no curtain rod yet or a power drill, so I suppose the curtains will have to wait. I'm still looking for a set of 3 or 4 11x14 frames to make a photo display on the wall in the living room. I ordered a giant rug online that should arrive in the next week. The bottom two photos are the baby's room. We have the furniture in there, but the baby's stuff isn't out yet. I still need a rocking chair that will be put where those boxes are, but I think I may have found a good option on Craiglist. The bathroom is pretty much the same as our last apartment and our bedroom will be a work in progress for 6 months I'm guessing. We really like our new place at University of Texas Student Family Housing. The outside of the buildings all look the same, kind of like military housing or a prison, and the inside of the apartments have no carpet, but overall we're very pleased. The rent is a few hundred dollars per month cheaper than anywhere else and includes everything but electricity (even internet and cable), and there is also a community feel because everywhere you look there are husbands and wives and children. We never lived at Wymount at BYU, so I guess this will have to be the replacement experience. :)

Tomorrow's Friday and Other Good News

2009-07-16T16:38:00.003-06:00

First, tomorrow's Friday! Hooray! It's my favorite day of the week. This week was wild, but it's almost done.
Tuesday was our day to make the big move to Student Family Housing. I ended up getting off work because no one called in sick so there were substitutes available. We moved to our two bedroom apartment and we LOVE it. I'll give more details about that in a few days.
On Wednesday I went to the Doctor's, which I usually enjoy because he confirms that everything seems to be going great. Well this time he got a funny look when he was measuring my abdomen and let me know that I had shrunk. He was really kind and let me know quickly that while he was pretty sure everything was fine, I needed to go over to the ultrasound room. I was still freaked out (I know, you're surprised that I freaked out, right?) but Thomas and the Dr. were both very reassuring. The ultrasound lady was positive and excited through the whole thing and quickly put me at ease that everything was fine. Baby just had curled into a teeny tiny little ball of baby love and since he was taking up less space, my uterus shrunk to be snug around him. She then proceeded to point out all of the fun stuff, focusing mostly on his face. He has giant cheeks and is weighing in at about 6 lbs 3 ounces. Based on the other facial features she also predicted that Baby will look more like Thomas. Anyway, while the visit was not so pleasant at first, it turned out fine and we were thrilled to get to see our little man. Now if only my body would decide to push him out...

Plea for Survival Tips

2009-07-12T20:15:00.000-06:00

I used to go weeks or even months without writing anything, and now I'm writing multiple times a day. Maybe it's the mood swings, but I'm not really sure. I'm not crying anymore, now I'm just tired. I think part of why I'm so emotional is because I overworked myself this weekend instead of relaxing. We're moving to a new place on Tuesday so we spent the weekend getting ready for the move. It seemed like a good idea, but since I didn't rest like I usually do, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next 5 days of work until I get another weekend. So now I'm making a plea for survival tips. If anyone has any suggestions for making it through another week, please let me know. And yes, I've already considered chocolate and ice cream, but maybe that's not such a good idea considering last week I gained 6 pounds in 8 days...oops. :)

Emotional

2009-07-12T15:07:00.002-06:00

I guess this is my shout out to my friends who I've bonded with over miscarriage. Tonight I'm an emotional wreck. I hoped that after several months of this pregnancy I wouldn't be so scared anymore. I think it actually might be worse. Because in two weeks I'm supposedly bearing a child, but a lot of the time it still doesn't seem like that could be true. Logic tells me to get over it and take the tags off all the little clothes and pull stuff out of the boxes so I'll be ready, but I can't do it. I can't. So maybe I'll sit and cry instead. Cry for the people I know who don't get to do this. Cry for the babies that never got to wear the little clothes. Then maybe I'll try again to take the tags off tomorrow. We'll see.

Giving Thanks in July

2009-07-08T20:34:00.004-06:00

This afternoon I have been really grouchy and whiny, even while I've been all alone in my apartment (Thomas works until 10 pm). Now it's time to think of things I'm thankful for.
1) My husband. Last night while I was trying to fall asleep I was given a spontaneous full body massage, even though he was probably super tired after working a 14 hour day. What a sweetie.
2) My religion, specifically my calling. Teaching the Gospel Principles Sunday School class was such a great learning experience for me; I'm sad that I got released last week. Focusing so intently on the topics and deciding how to try to present them to others really made a difference in my life. So now I need to make sure I continue to focus that hard on the lessons, even though I won't be teaching them.
3) My body. Yes, I complain about pregnancy sometimes. That is me venting, which has its place, but I want to to make something clear. I am more amazed by and grateful for my body than I've ever been. What it is doing is incredible and I'm so glad that I have the chance to bear a child. Experience told me that I might not ever have the opportunity to do this, and I am deeply grateful that things turned out differently.
Life is good. MY life is good. And I'm feeling less grouchy already.

Rockin' the double chin and spandex pants

2009-06-26T22:09:00.006-06:00

Let's face it. Sometimes it's difficult to accept this total body expansion, even if it's for a wonderful purpose like carrying life inside your body. I was looking through my belly shots (which I've taken more frequently than I care to admit) and I had to smile at the first one I ever took. I was so excited about my baby belly, a belly that seems so small now compared to the tub I'm currently packing around. And I'm not even as big as most women who are 4 weeks away from show time. Here's a reminder of when I was 14 weeks pregnant and starting to tell people versus my present state of odd tribal shirt and spandex pants. Gotta love maternity clothes...

Alive and Kicking

2009-06-14T20:09:00.011-06:00

We're alive. Baby's kicking.
From May 20-25 we went to Salt Lake to spend some time with family and friends. People were constantly checking on me and encouraging me to eat more and sleep more. Not too shabby. While I was there my mom and my sister-in-law Nicole gave me a great baby shower. Upon returning to Texas, I had another great baby shower given by some ladies in my ward. The picture on the right was not posed- this was the face I was actually making over and over and someone caught it. It's my "Aaah! Baby stuff is so cute and everyone is so nice!" face.
Thomas finished his first year of pharmacy school and is a total stud. He landed a summer internship with CVS Pharmacy that he began on June 1st and so far he's really enjoying it. Especially the making money part and not having to study on nights and weekends. So that's what we're up to. Most days we just get up, go to work, come home for dinner, feel Baby kick, talk for awhile, then go to sleep dreaming of what it will be like about six weeks from now when our life flips upside down.

Silver Birthday

2009-04-19T20:58:00.003-06:00

On April 8th I turned 25 years old and I celebrated the entire week because birthdays are just that much fun. The Saturday before I ate a delicious strawberry shortcake, baked to perfection by my mother-in-law. Thank you, Lisa. On Sunday I checked the apartment complex mail center and found THREE packages that I didn't know had arrived, one from my mom, one from my grandma, and one from my friend Kat. Thank you, ladies. On Monday or Tuesday I went shopping. On Wednesday, the actual birthday, we had a Spring Egg Hunt at school (carefully avoiding the word Easter, mind you. Silly efforts to remain religionless, blah blah blah. Every single one of the kid's parents still called it an Easter egg hunt). That evening Thomas and I braved downtown parking and went to a fancy restaurant for dinner. The kind of restaurant that is lit by candles, plays soft music, decorates with a wall of mirrors, and has a menu in Italian so you can only guess what you are ordering. It was blissfully romantic. Thank you, Thomas. Thursday we went to dinner with some friends and Cate gave me a beautiful picture book for Baby called You Were Loved Before You Were Born. I read it later and cried and cried. Out of happiness and hormones, of course. Thank you, Cate. Then on Sunday Thomas made me a birthday cake and we celebrated with more friends. Thank you again, sweet husband. Oh how I love birthdays, and this year certainly didn't disappoint. 25 is going to be fantastic. I just know it.