"I've forgotten what it's like to not be expanding!"

Sookie is a woman I can relate to. (If you don't watch Gilmore Girls, I highly recommend picking up the habit.)

This is me and my ever-enlarging self as of last week. Everything is going well with me and the baby, and yes...that is my bellybutton that you can see poking out. I know that everyone says that it's like an oven timer and when it pops the baby's ready. Well, my bellybutton popped out 7 weeks ago and I don't see that he's any more ready to come out now than he was then...but the timer seems to be protruding more and more each week...and with each laugh...each cough...each sneeze...

that's it...I'm never driving again...ever.

I see no problem in walking everywhere that I want to go, right?

I think it really may be the best option. I mean, I'll get plenty of exercise, I'll save loads on gas, and there would be no chance that I would ever spin off the freeway ever again...ever.


Kyle, my sweetheart, drove me to work this past Monday because it was starting to snow and it looked like there would likely be ice on the road by morning. Tuesday morning he picked me up and we headed for home. About 10 miles out of town we hit a stupid patch of black ice and spun off the freeway...this being my second time in 7 months. Luckily, we didn't roll ... I don't care for the rolling. We were able to stay upright while we fishtaled, blasting through a fence and ended with a very bumpy high-speed ride right into a ditch.

We were all very lucky. Everyone is fine, Kyle's fine, Porter's fine, and baby's fine. Me, physically I'm fine...however there is this huge phobia of driving that I seem to have developed...go figure...

And the car is fine too. The 4runner still runs...she has a few scratches where we ran through the fence, but other than that she's okay. She did have to suck up her pride and be towed out of the ditch, but I think she'll get over it.

Twice in the same year seems like a little too much...two times too much. In fact, I'm now 24 years old and I have been in 2 car accidents due to road conditions. My unborn son has also been in 2 car accidents due to road conditions and he hasn't even left the womb. I think we've both hit our lifetime limit.

I need to figure out how to avoid this again...

So, I think I need to buy a plow. I don't believe I have ever seen a plow that has rolled, or spun off the freeway. Nobody gets angry if they have to pass a plow that's going slower than the speed limit because they are the ones plowing the road. I may have a lot of people who follow behind me, but if someone decides to pass me and they spin out in front of me, that's okay because I'm a plow and I can just push them off to the side of the road...no harm done.

Plus, as a bonus, I can plow my road whenever it snows and repay the nice kind man who takes our trash out weekly and the other kind man who plows our driveway with his 4 wheeler. I think it's a win-win situation.

I need to be a plow.

Until then I'm gonna walk. I have no intention of purposefully climbing into my car and driving it again...at least not in the near future.

Porter on the other hand doesn't seem to have been even slightly phased by the accident. He is still ecstatic to go on "a yide" in the car.

He has so much to learn.

cravings

This past Sunday while we were driving home from Moab, I realized that I was starving and I needed something to eat. We were close to Beaver, and for those who don't know, Beaver has dairy farms. And, do you know what the dairy farms make? Squeaky cheese.

I remember my Gramma and Grampa taking us to a dairy farm up in Northern Utah...or was it in Wyoming? I was small, had the attention span of a fly, rode in the back of a station wagon facing the rear, and you wonder why I don't remember where it was we went...go figure.
But, I do remember riding home in the back of the station wagon plugging my ears while devouring squeaky cheese. Manna from heaven. I loved it. And I still do.

And Beaver was right there. We were going to pass right through it...

It was just after midnight (so it was now Monday, therefore not breaking the Sabbath) so we stopped at a gas station and Kyle ran in to get me squeaky cheese. I haven't been so delighted in a long time (oh, wait...I was pretty delighted at acquiring Josie... but this was running a close second).

I love squeaky cheese. I love it so much that I almost downed the entire pound by myself...yes, I'm a glutton... a pregnant glutton...a pregnant glutton who likes squeaky cheese.

However, the midnight binge resulted in me downing 4 tall 16 ounce glasses of water first thing the next morning (squeaky cheese has a high salt content). That's a lot of water...and water weighs a lot...and I had a doctors appointment at 9:00 am.

I downed my last glass at 8:30.

They like to weigh you at every doctors appointment.

I gained 6 pounds.

1 lb for the cheese and a few more from the water.

Here's a question. How do you look your doctor straight in the eye and tell him that he should really only count a 2 pound weight gain for the past 2 weeks and that the other 4 were only gained in the last 8 hours, AND if he would just wait until the water has time to hit your bladder that you're sure you can get rid of 3 of those extra pounds? AND that if he's willing to wait a while longer (like 24-48 hours) you're sure you can get rid of another pound too?

I don't know the answer, cause that's not what I did. I decided to keep what dignity I had and let them count the full 6 pounds without giving such an embarassing explanation.

As I'm laying there and he's checking the baby's heartbeat I start thinking. Next week I'll surprise him! Maybe I'll be able to only put on the suggested 2 lbs. for my next appointment. I'll make sure not to drink the night before and I'll stay away from midnight cravings. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to work off this weeks weight gain and combined with the next two weeks suggested 2 pound gain, I'll drop a pound!

Or, I could drive back to Beaver and get me some more cheese...

I think the baby likes squeaky cheese too.


Then the doctor said that my weight gain looked great this week, and my plans to drive back to Beaver were set.

So, there is one more craving to add to my list for this pregnancy. Apples, cookies-and-cream ice-cream, mashed potatoes (I crave those whether I'm pregnant or not), milk and squeaky cheese.


Mmm, squeaky cheese.

I think I need help.

playdough

This past week Porter and I made playdough. If there's two things this kid loves it's helping in the kitchen and making messes, and this turned out to be the perfect project for us because he got to do both.

Me feeling all artsy...and yes, taking this photo makes me feel like the Pioneer Woman...and I liked it...sue me.
Porter gets absolutely beside himself when he gets to stir something.

Oh, there's another word he knows how to say...stir.And for how thrilled he gets, he does a good job of leaving most of the contents of the bowl in its proper place.

I decided to make 2 different colors. This beautiful lime green that I love...and kind of a putrid orange. Turns out that making a vibrant orange is difficult. It turned out to be more of a rusty orange. Really, terribly gross color. But, even with the frightening color staring him in the face he decided to test the waters.And he found that it was good! Momma was actually allowing him to make a mess and tear things apart. He loved it.
(I really destest the orange...so we'll focus on the beautiful, lovely green we made.)

He played with it for close to an hour. Who knew so much entertainment could be acquired by some flour, salt, oil and food coloring?

It was a great day...an activity we will definitely have to repeat.

new addition

So much time and so little to do...wait a minute...strike that, reverse it.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks in this house and trying to keep up with everything (aka blogging/communicating with the outside world) has been more than difficult. But, we are all doing well and we're all alive. And we have a new addition to our family.

No, not what you may think...I'm still fat and have a little boy kicking around inside me. But we brought home a little girl...a big little girl...

She can do dishes.

We decided that with a new baby on the way that we will have a load of bottles added to the already towering pile of dishes that collect by the end of each day. Based on this fact, we decided we would get ourselves a dishwasher. I praise the name of the inventor of the dishwasher daily when I get to load my dishes into this...

Isn't she pretty? She has all these pretty buttons that light up in a delightful green.
In honor of the inventor, I think I should call her Josie.

I shall call her Josie and she will be mine, and she will be my Josie...

My dishes come out all sparkly and clean, and my fingers don't get all pruney and dry and cracky. I don't have to spend 4 hours every day trying to catch up on my dishes, and, for those who haven't been in my kitchen, I have very little counter space. Josie has solved that problem as well. She has provided another 2 feet of counter space to my kitchen.

I love her.

how could I forget?

Dryer sheets.
I forgot to put down his obsession with dryer sheets. He'll walk around the house with one plastered to his nose, sniffing away. He loves the smell.
He also likes how they taste.
I don't understand it, I just want to remember it.
Dryer sheets...he loves the dryer sheets.

18 months

I can't believe how big this boy is getting and I need to remember the cute things that he does at this age that just make me happy to be his Momma.

*He says many words including; Momma, Daddy, Drew, juice, eat, food, hot, hi, bye, shoes, ball, block, box, pop, there, that, huh and several more that I can't think of right at this moment.

*He knows how to make the sounds of several animals including; snake, monkey, bear, pig, horse, cow and Santa (okay, I know this one isn't an animal, but he knows what Santa says).

*He tries to sing with me by singing "OhEE OhEE OhEE" over and over again.

*He loves babies and will lay down on his belly and talk to them.

*He folds his arms when we sit down to eat, when we say the word "pray", and if he hears the words "Dear Heavenly Father"

*He dances to the hymns in sacrament meeting.

*He loves spaghettios, popcorn, graham crackers, marshmallows and any and all types of fruit.

*He loves to open and close the microwave.

*Whenever something is hidden or when he plays peekaboo he always says "huh? huh?" and stands with his hands facing upward. He climbs inside the cabinet sometimes and will close the door and say, "huh? huh?" over and over again until I come and find him.

*Whenever he is discovered, or he pulls his hands away from his face during peekaboo he always says "Hi!"

*He loves to have his quilt that his Gramma M. made him for when he's riding in the car.

*Loves to sleep with his teddy bear Fleming and Miles the giraffe.

*When he gets tired, he'll grab a blanket and curl up on top of it on the floor.

*He goes to sleep all by himself.

*We took him off the pacifier 3 months ago and he really didn't seem to care...he will find one around the house every once in a while and he will get so excited. I am so impressed that he gave it up so easily. Maybe it was me who wasn't ready to give them up.

*If you ask him where his baby brother is, he'll lift up my shirt and kiss my tummy.

*He grabs your finger to lead you wherever he wants to go. If Kyle and I are both around, we both have to give him a finger and both of us have to go with him.

*He has learned to "tickle".

*He doesn't actually "tickle". He will rub your back or your arms while fake-laughing hysterically. He thinks it's the funniest thing to "tickle" his Daddy.

*He loves to give hugs. He'll chase little kids around nursery trying to give them hugs.

*He gives the best hugs ever. Ask Gramma and Grampa M ... they'll agree. He puts his head on your shoulder and wraps his arms all the way around your neck... they're good hugs... you would all be so lucky to get one someday.

*He says "hot" for anything with an uncomfortable temperature. Whether it's cold or it's hot, it's "hot".

*His first week in nursery by himself ended in him being brought to me by the nursery-lady saying that he kept leading her by the finger to the door and asking for me. He had enormous tears and was convulsing from all the crying and when he saw me...he smiled.

*He makes chomping sounds when he wants another bite of food.

*He loves to play and dance on the bed while I get ready for work.

*He will do anything to go outside and play. When we finally entice him to come inside he keeps his coat and shoes on as long as he possibly can.

*We don't like to have him watch much TV, but he loves, absolutely adores to watch Cars. If Cars is playing he will remain glued to the TV until it's over. He loves it.

*He cuddles when he doesn't feel good, and he cuddles at night when we read stories and sing songs for bedtime. I like the cuddling. I think bedtime is my favorite time of day.

*He makes me happier than I ever thought being a mom could make me.

I don't know the last time I've laughed so hard.

I walked in the front room today and saw this.

Apparently he found his vinyl swim trunks today...I don't think he fully understood how they are to be used.

Although, this has inspired me... maybe it's me who has been mistaken for how they are to be used.I think this is a much better use, don't you?

Porter sure thinks so. "Porter, what is on your head?" "Huh?"
I couldn't hold it in much longer. As I busted out laughing, so did he.

It was a good morning.

shoveling

We have a little boy who likes to help. Just tell him what you want him to do and he'll get it done. He loves to help get wood for the fire (and will actually get a little upset if he doesn't get to help haul it in), loves to help me cook in the kitchen, he helps put the clothes in the washer, he helps wash dishes, helps put his toys away, and his newest love...shoveling the snow.

We haven't had a ton of snow this week, just a couple of inches on Tuesday. But, when Kyle took Porter out to play in it, Porter got fascinated with the shovel and all that it entails.

I think I need to lock this in early.

I mean, I have photographic evidence that he enjoys it... then it becomes his job for life, right?

24 in 2008

Okay, here it goes. My list of 24 things I did in 2008. By the way I have to mention that I am very proud of Angie for coming up with her list of 28...way to go babe.

1. Hiked to 13 new arches this year, with pictures to prove it.
2. Nailed a new job in the ER. This is probably one of my most happy things that happened this year. I may complain now and then about dumb patients or some of the requirements of my job, but the bottom line...I love it. I love working where I work and who I work with. I love it.
3. I became a redhead for the first time ever.
4. Quickly went back to being a blonde.
5. Chopped all of my hair off. The hair I had been growing for nearly 3 years went "bye-bye" and was replaced by a pixie-cut that I adore. I think I'll have Raylene do it again to me in a couple of weeks.
6. Lost all of my pregnancy weight + 12lbs.
7. Got pregnant for the second time with another little boy!
8. Watched as my first son turned a year old and has learned to walk and talk.
9. Tried sushi for the first time...and probably my last.
10. Gave my first haircut to Porter...probably a first and last as well.
11. Was in my first car accident/rollover...one more thing I hope not to repeat.
12. I only read 7 books this past year...that number should be increased this year.
13. I went to the ER for the first time as a mom instead of as a nurse or a patient. Didn't care for it much.
14. Almost died on a hike to The Subway. I do plan on trying this one again but with a few things changed; different time of year, no kid, not being pregnant.
15. Bought a pretty red Toyota 4 runner to replace the Honda that I smushed.
16. Played paintball for the first time and fell in love with it. Thanks honey.
17. Went on a ride over the Poison Spider with Kyle and his parents. Didn't cry once, but did have to climb out and hike a little.
18. Hit my first golf ball. It wasn't that thrilling.
19. Researched a gluten free diet, fully prepared to start a new life gluten-free when we thought that was what Porter was allergic to. And I jumped for joy (and ate a tray of brownies) when we found out that it wasn't necessary.
20. Discovered that the best ribs on the planet exist at Texas Roadhouse. My favorite new place to dine.
21. Hiked to Kanarra falls twice...looking forward to going again.
22. Succeeded in making all of my Christmas ornaments/decorations/presents. Normally at least one of those would have been dropped and forgotten, but not this year!
23. Discovered that Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist really is seasonal and that it makes it's return to store shelves after Halloween.
24. I was called "momma" for the first time ever by my sweet little redhead. Love that word. And that kid.

And that, in a nutshell, was my past year. It was a year full of good things and some not-so-good things, but I loved it. This year will be just as great (hopefully with a little less of the daredevil-stunt driving).