Coming Soon.....

A slideshow of 2009 is coming soon!! Thanks to my 8 year old for going to her grandma's and using the same bag I used to pack McKenna's stuff to go to Jackson Hole and finding my CAMERA!!!

And yes, I looked in that bag a hundred times. I even used it since the trip in August. Amazing!

Thanks again Mom for having Elise over! She enjoyed it and we loved the movie today!!

Have you ever felt that pull?

Last Sunday I felt something I don't recall feeling before, ever. Maybe I have, but this time it seemed so different. It was a spiritual PULL. I could feel some pretty intense feelings of love, understanding, forgiveness, longing to be closer to the Spirit... It was accompanied by an amazing and humbling crushing of my pride. And it grew stronger and stronger through the day. By bedtime I wondered what it really was. I still do. But I will be satisfied in believing in my heart that it might have been an answer to my husband's fasting that day... I haven't asked him why he was, but he was and it wasn't Fast Sunday. And I'll settle with the other strong impression that I felt, that my Heavenly Father knows ME and He wants ME to be CLOSER to HIM, every day. And I need to work on some things in that department. I've felt a bit closer to our Savior the last week, I've been trying hard to feel where and what He wants me to do. In all this hustle and bustle of Christmas and entertaining it has been somewhat difficult as I'm sure it is for most everyone else.

So I guess this is a Thank you. If you prayed and had me in mind or heart last Sunday, I felt it. And there have been times when I should have good reason to feel prayers from others, but THIS time when nothing particular is 'going on' I felt it. It hurt and it was warm all in the same. I loved that pull, that spiritual pull away from temporal. It was very very tangible for me.

Have any of you ever felt that before? I hope you haven't 'had' to, but I hope that you maybe 'got' to.

Merry Christmas.

Here's to a New Year of memories, and being closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ!

~Vicki

If you don't have anything nice to say.....

Last night I was chatting it up with one of my friends while we watched out faithful YW play volleyball and she mentioned to me NieNie's latest post. I don't know how I missed it. So I read it this morning. No it isn't the Halloween pics, though her children are absolutely adorable in their costumes (my fav is the little witch), but the other post, the one just before that.

I have one thing to say to that lady that met NieNie at the grocery store.

I'm sorry you feel bad enough inside about yourself that you had to beat up a poor woman with your words. She's suffered enough. She will continue to suffer enough physical and mental torment the rest of her life here on earth. How thoughtless, how CARE-LESS, and further more, I'm sure your mother taught you at least ONCE in your life that "if you don't have anything NICE to say, don't say ANYTHING AT ALL."

There I've said my peace this morning. May this be a reminder for us all to THINK before we OPEN our MOUTHS. Sticks and stones may break your bones, and yes, words DO hurt.

I wish I had a magic wand, or at least a band-aid sometimes to heal others' pain. I'd wave my wand for Jami, David, NieNie & Christian, Brandi, Ward, oh so many. But I don't. All I have is my heart to give and the knowledge that I gain from their experiences. The chance to serve others' continues to show up in our lives. May I never let it pass me by. Don't ignore those urges, don't ignore those posts on FB, or their blogs. I've been SO blessed by several little 'fairies' lately that have listened to that little voice and brought me exactly what I needed that day. Soup, a smile, a hug, or even Dr. Pepper. I hope I can be as helpful and thoughtful to someone else, and to them. I'll be sad that they get to experience whatever, but I'll be happy to help.
Thank you little fairies, you KNOW who you are!!

Long Time, No Post

At last, I'm giving in to my inner blogger and blogging. Even without pics. Well, maybe I'll find some, from the last time I downloaded from my camera. Speaking of my camera, it is lost. MIA. Gone. Poofed. Missing. Run away. Stolen. It is just, ugh. I can't find it anywhere. I went to grab it when Kenna started sitting up just after my mom left for MD to be with my sister and her family, but I couldn't find it. Then I talked with mom on the phone:
"Yah, Kenna is rolling over to her tummy now. I'll get it on video for you and post it"
"Oh, thank you Vicki. I would love to see that. I'm going to miss a bunch of stuff while I'm gone."

Yup, you're right. No video. I haven't found my camera. I think it's been two months now and I feel terrible about it. Mom even loaned me her old digital camera and I finally had the heart today to get it out and set it to charging. I'm pretty broke up about this loss. So, hopefully, I'll start using Mom's cam and mine will just walk back in and tell me where it's been for all this time. That would be SO nice.... a girl can dream right?




Just like these two girls were dreaming while sitting in the Shark Tank Tube in Vegas this last June... so long ago!!!




This pic is from July... When my big sister and her fam came to visit. We usually go to the HAFB museum with my Grandpa once a year. I don't know that he enjoys it as much anymore, but I LOVE to hear the stories. Amazingly enough, at 89 this month, he still tells different ones most of the time. This pic is of Elise and her cousin Jar with Grandpa, next to an airplane just like the one he flew in WWII. He flew them across America, ferried them. He never saw combat, which I am so grateful for. But I think back in the day, he was sad he kept getting pneumonia and couldn't go.




This is obviously McKenna relaxing, I mean, trying not to cook, in June heat in Las Vegas when we went to visit Joyce. We went to the pool one morning. It was SO HOT. We left in 45 minutes. And the pool was as good as ice water. Not very fun either.

One of my faves of Elise at the Shark Tank. We sat in that last tube for two hours. We liked it very much. It was cool to see all the sharks and other fish.

Well, since I'm hungry and my niece and nephew just required some pretty intense talking to about ruining our stuff.... I better go. Thank heaven Kenna is napping.

Beautiful Silly Girl

Sometimes I forget what a beautiful thing being SILLY can be. And just exactly how beautifully silly my eldest is. She narrated this "game" to me a while back to put on this blog. It is still there, down at the bottom on the right. Maybe she'll change it again soon. It is her little space in my space on the internet. Here she goes:

Ballet Guess Game.
I changed the rule. Now no yab yapping yapping yapping. And NO asking somebody else the law, and especially don't ask me to show my own self and No Cheats! Just let me do the rest of the magic.
SO, lets start with how many pets I have.
Next I want you to guess how many pets I have counting 2 horses, 2 chickens, 1 dog, actually I don't have any chickens. I do have 2 ducks and 13 little quails and 14 chicks and have you guessed yet??
Hurry up?
Stick around on Ballet Guess Game, we'll be back after these eleven messages!

Next time on Ballet Guess Game will be right back on Taco Bell at Tuesdays, weekdays and Fridays. Oh, and especially Wednesdays. See you next time!!!!

Oddly enough, she sounds a lot like Pippi Longstocking. We just finished that book a few weeks ago. She's so dang cute. Now to get her out of bed in the morning she is more like a bear coming out of hibernation, every morning. And I have to go do that exact thing right now at 7 am so she'll be on time for school.

Post-Partum Hair Loss

So I'm losing copious amounts of hair. My long brown hair is just coating my house. I really could make a rug. So I was thinking about why women might lose their hair post-partum, and with this on my mind last night, I fell asleep (if you can call it sleep really) and woke up with one thought.

Sprites. Yes dears, Sprites. They must be sneaking onto my bed at night and sprinkling me with magic hair-loss powder glitter. After that, they collect the hair that I carefully pull out with my hands while crying softly each day, and flick onto the floor, or toward a garbage can... they collect it and make hair for babies. Elise has hair that looks an awful lot like mine, so this makes perfect sense really. My hair will be secretly embedded into McKenna's noggin and sometime it will grow out and I will see the fruits of these wonderful Sprites.

The End.

Black Holes and Galactoceles

After reading through this again, I'm going to post this at the TOP:

This could be TMI for some of you. If it is, just don't read it, and maybe I'll get rid of it. hee hee. But the end might be funny.... I haven't ended it yet!

Not too long ago, okay almost 4 months ago, I had a baby. I really did, promise I'm not having another one even though that belly is still out there showing off. Anyway, at day 8 I got mastitis. Horrible! But I survived those mammoth sized antibiotics. Not long after that, okay at 6 weeks I had that check-up feeling perky and alive again I didn't think anything of anything. But my doc thought differently about this really hard spot. So, what was it? He wasn't taking any chances, so he sent me to get it looked at. I tell you the doc at Utah Imaging here in Ogden is terrific! Excellent bedside manner and he's a take charge, no-nonsense about breast disease kind of guy, Tomayo is his last name. I'd go see him for a cold, he's awesome. Though he may laugh at you for coming to see him for a cold. Love him! And mammograms are not all that painful, at least mine wasn't, and I'm lactating, AND i was letting down at the time of impact. Not bad at all, really. If you don't believe me, ask Doris my tech in the mam room, we had a great chat and got altogether too closely acquainted! ;)

Results wise it looked like a Black Hole on the ultra-sound. After a harried, hurried, long, exhausting trip to UofU in SLC, AND HCI (the most beautiful building you pray you never have to go to ever) and then back to Ogden a month later for a biopsy (don't bother bringing someone to hold your hand for one of these, doc on one side shoving copious amounts of numbing agents into your chest, while on your other side the u/s tech is getting it all on the u/s prior to poking a pen sized object into your Galactocele. Not exactly fun, but it didn't hurt that much, and recovery hasn't been that bad either.

But in the thinking of what is going on there, just the names of the things. At Huntsman the wonderful doc that saw me kept saying it could be a Galactocele, but it looks just like this huge Black Hole... I laid there and looked at her and the u/s monitor and asked,
"So is this a result of watching too many Star Trek episodes? Cause it sure sounds spacey to me!"

She didn't laugh. Why didn't she laugh? Because I don't think she got it. She's in a very serious place, so I won't hold it against her, and I hopefully won't be going back ever not even to visit.
But Tomayo did laugh at my joke. And he's a serious guy, he just doesn't have breasts at risk! ;)

So all is well, I just got a call from Tomayo's office on the biopsy results. Benign, that means no cancer, but it also means I've got an uncured infection though it isn't hurting me I don't think.... Mike will have words at me over this part cause those mammoth sized pills had me all confused.


So I've got another phone call to make, and Elise is bored... imagine that. I do hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying your summer.

Riding Lessons

Riding Lessons

First off, this extremely large feline is Rupert. He's huge. He's stupidly trusting, or just plain stupid. He loves on everyone, and lies in the middle of the round pen whenever he chooses. And the horse Elise rides isn't fond of small critters. But Rupert doesn't seem to mind.

This is Skye. And Elise brushing him down prior to riding. These are excellent habits to get into when deciding if you want a horse for reals or not. Go and learn from someone who has one and keeps it very well and decide if you really want that. Elise still does. I'm debating with myself, although it is the most amazing feeling watching her do something that she claims she loves, and to see her be good at it. Priceless! Or at least worth the money I've put into it so far!

Her coach, Allie says she has great posture. Especially for a beginner. AND she's gentle on the reins. After two days in the round pen she got to go in the big arena (pics of that posted later!)

A little bit of an obstacle course. Sky is a barrel racing and pole bending horse. He's won big money for his fam and I can see his talent shine through. Elise is just getting used to walking in this pic, but she learned to trot on Day 3!

He is so big!! Look at my baby up there on that full sized animal! Yikes!

Allie is a great teacher for Elise. She's patient and firm and uses a different language than I do. It is more the language that I want to use; more empowering to Elise. This is awesome! I can't wait to see more of this.

UPDATE:

So I started this post three weeks ago. Ya, babies make me busy I guess. Elise is now trotting confidently in the BIG ARENA!! Doing regular pole bending techniques around cones (not poles because Sky would possibly take off out from under her since he LOVES that so much). She rides lessons for about 40 minutes then Allie tells her to just practice something, or have fun and she'll come and chat with me and we let Elise and Sky do their thing. Today was special because Elise was really enjoying getting Sky going fast. I can't believe she can hang on for a trot, but she can! Doesn't even look bouncy really. They work great together and I'm thinking about doing some barrel racing in the future. I've always wanted to and I heard of a group that we can compete in together as a family so I think we'll do that next year... got a small problem though. I ought to have our own horses for such a thing!! We'll see!!

Blessing Day Blessings

So, you've seen how wet it is outside. It was wet last week, it is wet all this week and I didn't even THINK about it being wet for Sunday's post-blessing activities. Didn't dawn on me at all. The dress was done just perfectly by my mother. McKenna was bathed and ready to be dressed just in time for me to wonder what I'd forgotten. My dinner assignments had been assigned, and we were planning on an outdoor BBQ style party at my mother-in-law's (She has the best yard for large groups with children). I woke up to rain. I still wasn't thinking about it. Really! Then I got a phone call at 9 in the morning, my mother-in-law. This isn't word for word, but pretty close.

Jan: "Vicki, good morning you up yet?"

Vicki: "Um, thinking about it, but no."

J: "Well, it is raining. I just got a call from Sandra. She said that we could use her wrap around porch for the dinner today if we need to because of the rain."

V: "Oh, that is so nice! It is raining? Really?"

J: "Yes. It is pouring. Get up and look."

V: "okay, I'll get up and look. Thanks for letting me know. She's so nice. That saves us a bit of trouble doesn't it?"

J: "Yup, I got to go. See you at church!"

V: "okay, thanks again." And back to sleep I tried to be!!

In came the troupes (aka Mike & Elise) begging for pancakes. Yup, on fast Sunday. The day our little miracle was to be blessed. Mike didn't fast. He fasted the week before. We are terrible at fasting. I usually remember... oh this could go on forever I'll stop this now and re-visit it later in another post!!

Pancakes served. Elise is skipping Primary to help me get Kenna ready. Mike is off to church to teach his Sunday School Lesson. I'm slowly and methodically getting everything ready... Do we need another dessert? What would I make in an hour? Nothing, we must have enough then!

_______________________________________________

Arrived at church, changed Kenna's clothes into her Blessing Dress. My beautiful little sister helped, so did my mom. That mother's room needs to be bigger. We sat down in the chapel and waited. All of our guests had arrived sometime by the end of the Sacrament. I'd been worried at how big our circle would be, little at all did I know!!! Dave missed our blessing being before the Sacrament, but it turned out to be a great thing. I handed McKenna to Mike and patted him. Off they went, and so did about half the priesthood in the building!! They just kept popping up and walking up there. I felt my face begin to get a little wide-eyed and pinker... that one had to be the largest I'd ever seen!! I have heard that there were about 18 men, each with at least a finger holding up my little 10 pound Kenna. The blessing was great, many told me it was beautiful. I have yet to re-listen to it and write it down and destroy the recording, but I'm sure it was great.

But one feeling trumped that big circle of fantastic priesthood holding gentlemen. There are SO many missing!!!!! For starters, my own father who passed away 10 years ago in May. Mike's grandfathers have both passed away. Two of Mike's uncles, Larry and Alan. My grandfathers were not there, one I invited, the other I didn't. My brother-in-law Jeff P in MD. Uncle Brad was working or doing something with the High Council; Clay was teaching his class; Bryan is in Spain on his mission; Mitch is in the MTC. Mike's brothers Lance & Ryan are in Cali selling pesticides (I think that baby blessings trump chemicals, but whatever!! ;) ) Several of Mike's cousins: Dan, Lars, Thomas, Steven, Eric, David... There could be more, that generation of Wight's had a lot of boys! I have two cousins that maybe could have been invited and in the circle. I think that about covers it.

I feel overwhelmed by the knowledge of all this priesthood power surrounding my daughters. It is full of love, guidance, and power from on high. I'm so grateful that there are so many worthy holders of this priesthood in my family, in my neighborhood to protect and guide my girls as I do my best trying to raise them up right. It takes a village, it really does, and a lot of righteous Chieftans.

But most of all, I'm still overwhelmed and pinching myself about having concieved and bore another child. I hope and pray that I never ever forget what a huge blessing, an impossible circumstance it seemed, to bear another child into this world of my own flesh. She is healthy, she is strong, loving, beautiful, and cherishable!!! So is my firstborn. A different kind of blessing, but a blessing all the same.

Another blessing: Sandra having the energy, time and intuitiveness (she's really good at being intuitive anyway! She's often prompted to do things by the Spirit. I love that about her!!) to offer her home to SO many strangers! Wight's, Weatherston's& Stallings! It was an amazing gathering!

Blessing Day 2009.

You KNOW You're Sleepy When...

I decided sometime around 3 am that I was honestly too sleepy when this train of thoughts came to my mind...

Tiff will blog for me. She will I know she will. I'll take care of McKenna, Troy will take Elise to her Opera, Rhett will come and drive and Tiff will put it all on my blog for me.

I drifted happily off to sleep then realized that Kenna hadn't woken up yet. Going on 4 hours, I FLEW out of bed, hit the lamp light on, checked the time now around 4 am, and took three steps to her crib side. She's just fine. Starting to fuss a little. Is it because I made so much noise? Could she hear my heart exploding out of my chest? Did she need her diaper changed? Where is the pacifier and the burp cloth thing? Where is Tiff? WHY am I thinking about Tiff at all?

I picked her up out of her blankets and looked her in the face and said, "Don't worry Kenna, Tiff will be here any minute."

I really did. Then I sat down with McKenna in our rocking chair, yes my grandma's wood rocking chair with no padding, and nursed McKenna from sleep to sleep again. Changed her diaper and cradled her in my arms for a bit more then laid her back down to sleep. Then I thought, "oh my, I'm tired. Tiff's family is NOT coming at 3 am to do anything, especially if I don't call and ask or let them know... I need to sleep. I need to sleep a LOT more tomorrow during the day."

So what am I doing today? Well I slept in till 630, fed McKenna, chugged a chocolate soy/whey protein shake by Herbalife, and crawled back into bed until 745. Kenna and I moved down stairs to supervise Elise getting ready for school which we slept very peacefully through most of. I'm sad that she's getting so good at getting ready for school that she can tell time and know when to be out waiting for the bus so I can sleep. Makes me feel like a lousy mother, but hey, I'm sleeping right? We slept until 10 am, McKenna ate while I watched reruns of Law & Order. Changed her diaper, then let her rest in her bouncer for a bit while I decided that The View is not worth watching most days and today was one of them. By 1130 Kenna was falling asleep doing Tummy Time, and I'm posting about Tiff and her family keeping me up at night.




Tiff, no harm done. I'm going back to bed RIGHT now. You didn't know you were going to come and didn't show up. And honestly, you aren't the first! A few weeks ago it was the DiMera's from Days that were coming to help. Good heaven I am glad THEY didn't show up, although EJ is pretty nice to look at...

All rambling aside... Kelly THANK YOU FOR THE ICE CREAM!!! You have been redeemed! ;) I love you take it easy sweetie!

Vicki

Post Edit: After thinking about this post I've decided I need to add that I have NOT been taking anything. In fact, I never cracked open my pain meds from delivery, except the IB's. This is all attributable to just not sleeping enough, or being crazy to begin with.

And I'll take ice cream wherever I can get it!! Thanks Kell!

A Tribute to a Moving Shoe Trendy Mother

I am trying to post this with a foggy head, messy kitchen, and laundry to do... so forgive me if it is scattered or not worded great...

A while ago, one of my dear friends posted about her glowing shoe choice for indoor soccer. I've seen a movement in the local girls' soccer choice for their footwear this outdoor season. And they look vaguely familiar. They echo the wise decision making of that good friend of mine. Her adventurous spirit and joyous personality are reflecting across the road at my home from that green luscious soccer field to the east.

They are wearing these... SEVERAL of them!

Congrats Kelli, on being a Trend Setting Hot Soccer Playin' Mama!

I don't do this often enough anymore!

Having an infant is a new thing for me again. I'm a little slow at updating my blog so ya'll can see my beautiful baby girl that grunts and squeeks more than she squacks or cries, which I am grateful for. I'm also grateful for all the terrifically yummy generous food that has come our way! Great gumballs it has been wonderful! Thank you thank you thank you ALL!!!

So on with the pics, cause that is what everyone wants to see!!!



Elise holding McKenna just a couple days after she came home. I know, we are working on how to hold an infant still. She's doing MUCH better!!


You've seen this pic before, but I monochromed it. Looks pretty cool huh?



Yes, it is spring in the Ogden Valley. We still wear our snow suits cause it is COLD outside if you move or the wind is blowing. I'm so glad that we kept Elise's snow suit. Looks great on Kenna don't you think??


She still has big blue eyes. We wonder if they'll change. If they do I'm sure I will let you all know. I don't know when Elise's changed. We're hoping, just for variety, that McKenna's don't!


This is not after her FIRST bath, but after a bath. She's precious. She loves showers. I know, risky, but it is easier on my back and Mike is great at holding her. She seems to enjoy the water on her back and tummy most of all, well, besides being warm and nakey!! (We don't say nakey, but that other word is one people search for, so I change it, sorry if that sounds weird.)

So at her last doc appt she weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces. Feeding her is going well I guess by those numbers. My mastitis went away quickly, that was on day 8... ouch. Now McKenna has a cold given her by her sister. So sweet. And I've got allergies, for sure cause they hit when Mulberry hit hard yesterday. Ah, I love spring. I don't usually have allergies. I may hate this spring when all is said and done.

The OM is next weekend. I'm looking forward to sitting on my roof at 5 am and watching the craziness across the street. I will be taking photos again this year. If you are planning on coming to my lawn party... which will be very low key, I suggest coming after the half starts at 7, or before they start arriving at 4 am... however, I'm not sure I'll be up right then!!! But it will be fun to have friends over. We'll break out the chips and salsa, maybe a potato salad or something. Oh, if you're coming, let me know.

If you're running the OM, TELL ME!! I watched the entire race last year and loved seeing my friends pass. But some of them were surprises! I'd love to get photos of ya'll running by.

Okay, McKenna is calling me. Diapers and food, diapers and food. And snuggles. She snuggles really good!!!

Mike's Camera

So I really want to post some cute pics of McKenna's first bath... but they are on Mike's camera, and Mike always has his camera with him, and I'm not with him, he's at work I'm at home... so I'll find something else to post about. Maybe.

Oh here is something. I follow NieNie and her sister CJane and Pioneer Woman. On CJane I'm in her list of "followers" or something. For the longest time I've been wondering if I'll ever make it onto her page on the side bar. Then today something magical happened and there I was. My little pic of me and my nephew were on the side of CJane's blog!! Wahoo!! That was fun, and I almost missed it.

On PW, she posted recently about her boys wrestling. This was particularly amusing to me because my husband's family of 5 boys and 1 girl (yes, Tilda is in the middle! Oh and that isn't her real name.) wrestling isn't just a sport, or a past-time, it has at times seemed like life, or air, or their very existence. They wrestle with Uncle George, many of you know Uncle George. He is nearing 60 folks, has Downs Syndrome, and loves to annoy those boys. He'll pick on them just like anyone else's Uncle would and they dish it right back. Which often results in the rest of us curling up tighter on the couch so that they don't squash our feet as they roll and tickle and pinch each other during their matches on the Sunday floor.

This is the brother that wrestled Mike a few weeks ago in MY living room. They nearly gave me a heart attack, hives and a mild stroke. I was nursing McKenna in my favorite chair and they just jumped on each other. My decorations for Easter rocking precariously on the top of my piano... I have yet to grow acustomed to actual real life wrestling in MY house. I grew up with girls, we fought over the bathroom and clothes, no wrestling involved, though there may have been swearing and crying and definitely name calling.

And what is with some people not being able to read my posts?? I've had reports of my typing looking in all symbols. What is UP with that?

I need to feed my beautiful baby girl now. She has her first cold, thanks to her loving kind sharing big sister and the stupid bugs at school.

She's just too sweet to say no to, at least, not yet!

P.S. If ANY Of you know of a totally completely awesome stroller that I just must try out, please please please let me know. I'm looking for one. I want one that won't stop when I hit gravel or dirt, as I INTEND on getting back outside and in better shape pretty soon here.

Our Newest Addition

She's here. She's tiny. Tinier than I thought she would be. Tinier than I think any baby should be. But she came out quick, so that was very good. She is sweet. She doesn't cry unless someone undresses her so I can feed her. I think she's better than chocolate, even better than dark chocolate which is my favorite. She is delicious! I can't wait for peaches to come in to season, so I can think about all their yummy peach fuzz instead of hers. She's SO soft. And she loves to snuggle.

Her daddy loves her!! I adore watching him with her. I'll hand her to him any chance I can bare to part with her, just to watch them interact. He'll cuddle her down in his big daddy arms and just stare at her face. Watching every change, every twitch, every gassy smile. He'll try to wake her and she mostly refuses. When he does catch her awake, which I think has been a total of two hours since birth, he'll snatch her from me and stare at her big blue eyes and talk to her. She'll look at him and with equal interest, just stare into her daddy's face. I think they've got something. Or at least, she has him in her tractor beam, cause I think he's a gonners over her!

Beyond most obvious expressions, I'd say her older sister has it made! She can hold her little Pipsqueek anytime she wants, doesn't have to (or get to at this point) change diapers (which are huge in number!!!) or suffer through nursing engorged! She can cuddle her, and hold her, and rock her and sing to her. All in the name of love. I think she's sold too on this idea that babies are great and that this one is way more than what we could have imagined receiving.

But most of all, I'm the most hooked on her. I've been pinching myself since August. Her conception was a blessing wrought with heartache of not knowing if she'd make it here all the way. Her gestation was full of myriad feelings; gratitude, fear, anticipation, love, sickness, pain, anticipation. Her birth was bittersweet as she came into a world that will likely give her challenges that I did not face, but have to prepare her for. My fear that something would go wrong ate at me clear through the end. But she came out, with her umbilical cord wrapped tightly around her like a seat belt (she may take after me, being safety conscious), and ready for action. I still have a hard time believing this blessing. We are a forever family, and she is forever a member and she's here. To snuggle, to cuddle, to teach, to hold, to guide, to watch, to protect.

She's mine. Heaven help me be the best I can for her.

The End of Pregnancy Will Commence...

So, I went to the doc today. I go every Monday and we laugh and have a good time and I pester him relentlessly about "when" and "why" and "how come I don't" and all that. Apparently I've "twisted his arm" (and that is a direct quote, ask mom, she was there) far enough that he has conceeded to reserve an induction date. My next appointment will put me at 39 weeks, 1 day. If he told me at 10 am that he could induce me THAT day, I'd have to run home, pack all my stuff (I tried to pack it, but can't give up my nightgowns yet!!) make sure Elise was ready for her plans, the dog was cared for, get Mike out of his work clothes (aka yucky muddy boots and pants) and try to keep my bp from raising all that time.... SO we decided that if I'm "ripe" on Monday, I'll be "riper" on Wednesday, and I'll have time to plan, etc. So, Wednesday April 8th we'll try to get this beautiful baby girl out of my belly. IF, yes IF, my bishop score is 8 or greater. Right now I'm sitting at a 6... oh, this has zero to do with church, though it sounds like it could!! I don't remember 7 years back to my bishop scores for Elise's delivery... must not have been too good cause he wouldn't start me until AFTER my due date. Yes, I went over, 8 whole days and 12 hours on my first baby. Lucky me!! She was baked to perfection I believe. Now, if I'm not "ripe" on Monday, then I'll check back in on Weds, if I'm still not "ripe" we wait it out past the due date and induce on the 13th for sure. I'm not excited about giving birth on that day for two very distinct reasons. 1) My high school loves' birthday is on that day. He's a great guy, but honest to pete I'm not in touch with him and I don't want to remember him every year. Seriously! And 2) The 13th falls on Friday's ALL THE TIME... and given bf's experiences with having his bday on the 13th, I'd rather wait for another day. Oh, and there is a 3) I was hit by a car as a child on a Friday the 13th. Okay, she totally just nudged me, I didn't even get a bruise, but SHE freaked me out! She made me get in her car to drive me home from school (her old grandma was in the car so I wasn't THAT worried about stranger-danger) and she totally ticked off my mom, or scared her, or whatever. There are few things in MY childhood that my mom specifically remembers about me, and this is one of them.

Now I'm wondering when Mike will call me to go out for lunch. I'm starving, but if I snack I won't be able to actually eat a meal. Has something to do with being pregnant and not able to digest food quickly and this huge bump that kicks and rolls around and takes up too much room.

By the way Mom, if you read this: Sweetheart is sleeping how Lacee usually sleeps. Body on the ottoman, head on the chair... yup, she's sweet! And Lacee is curled up on one of the dog bags, the brown one. Max is in his crate resting as per instruction earlier. He did go out and go potty first thing. And he still looks as happy as ever! Thanks for coming today, it was good to have you there with me!

Pregnant Photos!

Ice Cream & Hot Fudge

So we went to this party and we had so much fun. But a few people want our recipe for our ice cream and our Hot Fudge... So here they are.

Vanilla Ice Cream

2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Vanilla (I used 2!)
7 cups milk (we used 1%)
5 eggs, beaten
2 3/4 cups heavy cream (I used just that small pint size from the store)
1 1/2 cuts half and half (again, just used the pint size from the store)

Mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan. Over medium heat, slowly stir in the milk, stirring occasionally. Very slowly, add the beaten eggs and continue to stir. Reduce heat to low and cook until mixture thickens slightly. Slowly add vanilla, half and half, and heavy cream. Pour into a large glass bowl and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until mixture has chilled. Remove from refrigerator. Pour mixture into the mixing canister and follow directions in the "How to Use" section... OH I guess you don't have that part!!! Do not fill your mixing canister over 2/3 full. Liquids have a way of expanding as they freeze... something about chemistry.

This makes 4 quarts. If your ice cream maker is bigger or smaller, I can't help you adjust for your machine, but you could call me and I could call my mom, but she'll probably say the same thing...

Hot Fudge Sauce

2 cups chocolate chips (YOUR favorite kind, we use Ghiradelli usually)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cube of butter (yes butter not margarine.)
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)

In a saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and butter. Add the powdered sugar and the milk when the chips get kinda melty. Keep stirring until the mixture is barely boiling. Remove from heat. Add a little salt and vanilla. As it cools continue stirring.

Keep refrigerated. Reheat to serve. A small amount goes a long way and only takes about 30 seconds to reheat in the microwave.

PS this makes a great snack too. Grab a spoon and take a spoonful. Put the lid back on tight and put it back in the fridge, and then lick your spoon clean. I call these Chocolate Shame in a Spoon. DON'T re-use the same spoon. Please wash between uses. ;)

This also makes a good fondue dip... especially if you DON'T have a "fondue pot".

So, Is It Okay When...

Okay this is yet another post probably without pictures...
which starts off my first Is It Okay When...

Is it okay when you post with no pics? I feel kind of blog nakey without them. It is much worse than going all day in the winter without socks on.

Is it okay when you send your niece out to play in the snow, in what her mother sent her in, even though it is totally not snow worthy attire? (Example: her gloves are those little one size fits all cheap crap things that you can get at the grocery store.)

Is it okay when, you refer to your nephew as the Tossed Salad, because he kept you up all night, tossing in the crib?

Is it okay when you send your husband a text message to go pick up his birthday gift that he knows about? Homemade ice cream is our favorite and he's just not been the same lately without a bowl on occasion.

Is it okay when you only spot vacuum? And ONLY because the hubby is coming home soon and he'd flip a lid, or bust a gasket, if he saw the super cheesy cracker mess in the TV room?

Is it okay to want snow for a little longer, just because it hurts your eyes to look at the grass underneath? (This would be why Kelli's landscaping is the best!!)

Is it okay that I can't see the girls playing outside with the dog right this minute? That doesn't make me a bad mom AND babysitter? Oh and heaven forbid a bad dog owner!! Right?

Is it okay that I let my dog run haphazard all over the farm and don't care? LOL! I keep trying to find her mess, but she's hiding it somewhere.... okay I found that she got into someone's ziploc baggies and spread them from one end of the barnyard to the other, but I don't know where they came from, who they belong to, or that she wasn't on a special assignment by the hens to do this. She hangs out in the barn with them a lot... mostly wanting them to come out and play, though I think they don't really want to be friends with her. Something about her genentics. They are so rude!

Is It Okay When I give my nephew a bandaid for a very small owie on his foot that is like 10 seconds from being completely healed on its own without any TLC? Cause I did, and he liked it, and so did I.

Okay I think that is enough questions for you all today. I may have my issues under control by now... or not. hahahaha!

Okay Dokay

It has been a WHILE since I posted. I was at first just waiting for my Pay It Forward to fill up, but now it is MARCH already and I had to change the background (curse my learning new things) and the baby's due date is approaching and I've still got lots to do, and SO much time on my hands to think about what needs done!! Oh and the dog keeps getting out. She's taken to climbing the snowbank in the back of the house, and up over the edge of a wood shed that the roof caved in LAST winter (yes, the landlord has NOT come to fix his own property) and down through piles of rotten cast off wood that has rusty nails and all manner of unlikeable things in it, all in the name of wandering about the barnyard or over to the neighbors (my in-laws) to visit.

So what was this post going to be about? Oh yeah, nothing at all. Mike is busy working. I attend doctor's appointments, eat as much as I can within reason, and try to keep the house clean. Ah and the doctor gave me the go ahead on doing lots of fun things that I've been dying to do lately. Have contractions is the main goal here. He'd like to induce me before spring break if I don't go on my own earlier. So I'm back to doing housework at full force (except vacuuming which Mike doesn't understand) and I may take the dog for a snowshoe to my in-laws if the weather is good and I'm feeling up to it. But mostly I've gotten really used to this lazy house arrest behavior I was stuck with. Lazy habits and addictions die hard I've decided.

I must be addicted to being lazy!

I already KNOW I'm addicted to cream cheese frosting. Have been for a long time.

Oh and we're all trying to see what we can wiggle out of Mike for the baby's name. It is true, you have probably heard it from me before, but we'll be naming our baby something with -ken- in it. Mike's boss put him up to it. He's had a $200 reward (I know, this is so cheesy!) for anyone that works for him if they will name their child -ken- (his name). It will go directly into her college fund (provided there are still colleges and money when she is old enough to need either). And her middle name MUST be Margaret after both our maternal grandmothers. That is really convenient I think, so I picked it! Both great ladies and I love them both dearly though they've both passed away.

So look back again soon for a vote-type thing.

Have you opened your windows today? It is a lovely temperature out there, but the skies are really gray! Unfortunately it smells a lot like it did when I was pregnant with Elise and was really pukey... Ah memories.

Pay It Forward!

"The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and What will be a surprise. There's a small catch though....Post this same thing on your blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in. Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift."

Bald Eagles

Elise had her first REPORT to do this past weekend. I've known about it since Wednesday... I'm a professional procrastinator. I should have a plaque on the wall with golden engraving stating that I graduated sometime around middle school with my PhD in Procrastination, but mom didn't get me one. I suppose that it was an extra-cost-option. So I'm passing on this degree to my offspring. We started her report on Sunday night at 5 minutes to 8 pm, for a paper that was due Monday morning at 8:45. Yes. I nearly lost my patience and we got it done around 9:45 pm. UGH. But Elise did a fantastic job. Here it is. She came home very excited about the whole thing. The class was great while they read their papers about their favorite bird. I'm pleased with her knowledge and her ability to cruise through a book to find the information she needs. She did great... now if I can just train that procrastination out of both of us, we'll be good. Below is a close up to what she wrote. We talked about the questions her teacher wanted answered in the paper, found the answers, wrote a rough draft, corrected the draft, and wrote it nice and neat on a clean sheet of paper. Then she traced a bald eagle from her tracing book, brushed her teeth and hair, changed clothes and collapsed into bed, only after begging for a story, which I advised her wouldn't happen due to the late hour. Then she informed me when she got home from school today that she missed TWO recesses because she was so slow today doing her work in class. Sleep deprivation.

I hope you can click on this pic and see it better on your computer. It is kind of small, but is a great representation of her handwriting skill. She's doing great.

Frustration at the Peak

I woke up this morning happy that I took half a unisom to help me sleep. I slept like a dead person. Felt great! And it was snowing! I love the snow. It is so beautiful, it is so soft, it just feels good to me to have all that fresh white. Then I remembered that I had a chiropractic appointment this morning, on the OTHER side of the mountains. UGH. I always feel really great afterward, but I did NOT want to leave the house!! Just didn't want to get in the car and drive anywhere. So I continued on in my morning. Kid on the bus, check. Shower, check. Hair, didn't wash it so check. Teeth brushed, check. Still snowing, check. Mountain ranges clouded over receiving snow, check.

UGH. I normally don't mind driving in the snow, but something about this morning just ached for me to not go. I should have stayed home.

I usually drive over Trapper's Loop to Mountain Green, down the Weber Canyon and up 89 to my clinic where I get all my adjustments and some relaxation twice a week. So I drove out the driveway and headed to Huntsville... roads snow packed when I hit Huntsville's Chevron. No problem. I've driven my little beep beep over those mountains in a blizzard and didn't see ANY other vehicles that night, but I did see a slow moving moose in my way that night... better than a yedi! So I kept going. Up the first hill I got the thought that maybe I should have stayed home. The closer I got to the top (Snowbasin road) the faster my tires were spinning and the slower I was actually going. Strange how that can be. I got passed by two cars. That sucked. When I reached the top I felt like a lonesome lost soul. All alone for the descent.

Down I went, slower than I thought was possible, I think 15 or so. Down was easy compared to up. But it was slick. Why didn't I have traction? This was ridiculous. I've done this SO many times before. By the time I got to the gas station at the bottom, I realized I'd locked my left wrist into such a stiff position that it hurt. Physically hurt to use it in any other position. I had no idea I was gripping that hard to my steering wheel. Hanging on for dear life was more like it. The canyon wasn't much better. Only I wasn't alone and I wasn't the only one driving slowly. That made me feel better. I was being followed at a good distance by a truck and it was going just as cautiously as I was. Traffic going east was stopped, rigs putting on their chains (man I wish I'd bought my brother's chains last winter!). But Ogden was good. Roads mostly clear.

The way home brought my frustration to the Peak. Clear roads, slightly wet, a few snow flakes floating harmlessly to the ground and I got stuck behind a crossover vehicle (yes, 4-wheel drive crossover!!!) that insisted on driving 25 the entire Ogden Canyon. Braking to below that for turns or hills. Undoubtedly I'm related to this poor individual because I married into the genetic Ogden Valley gene pool. But seriously, 25? Really?? The road is mostly flat... there is that one part that has that little bump and a turn combo that I really love to fling around usually, but I wouldn't have today, even with this idiot in front of me. By the time we got through the canyon I thought, ya, this person had better drive to some resort and park it... they can't be local. No, they turned left over the dam with me. Darn it! Breathe deeply. I pulled back away from crossover from the slow days, and gave it a good head start so I could avoid jumping out of my car and committing crimes I shouldn't admit that I wanted to commit at all... blood pressure check! Speed limit over there is 50, I know people who can run faster than this person chose to drive!! And of course, passing isn't always safe, particularly when you've got cars coming at you from the other direction, or I would have done it. Finally a Jeep pulled up behind me and I glanced in the rear view, and noticed this guy getting just as frustrated as I was... he backed off. I turned up Armageddon louder and screamed things I can't repeat when crossover from the 20's slowed down to 20 or so right before the break off to Eden.... praying that he'd turn to go the other way, I finally was set free, just in time to meet where apparently they haven't focused on plowing today... fishtail. I looked like an idiot. GRRR!! So I rip it up the hill by Hill's and gun it into my own unplowed drive getting on the brakes just in time so I didn't crash into my fiberglass garage door that opens manually.

I'm so glad I made it home without hurting anyone today. I have a 2-wheel drive, 6-cylinder car, and I'm glad I wasn't in a hummer today... I'd have had smashed up that 4 wheel drive crossover like a bug. Maybe that is why I'm so tired tonight. All that tension from this morning.

Oh and I totally owe you one for reading this all the way through... Not sure what you'll get for it, but I appreciate you reading my rantings.

PS If that was YOU in the crossover, or one of the two vehicles that passed me going uphill toward Basin, you really ticked me off. But I'll love you tomorrow anyway. Promise. But just this once.

On the Day You Were Born

Hey I got this in an email from my mother (who texts me when she wants to tell me anything which I find bizarre! Oh and she totally played hookie from work today. Mike knows where I get my tendencies from...) moving on...

You might want to go here and see which song was the #1 hit song the day you were born. It is kinda fun. I apparently was born the day that Blondie had a hit song! I had no CLUE who Blondie is, but I googled her name and song and I've heard that song before... not one of my favorite 80's hits, but I guess someone liked it that day!! Oh, and her hair color is back in style again. I still am not sure what to do with that color combo... I couldn't do it. But some of you can!

Arches Slideshow!

A Few Things

I was hoping to be posting pics from my most recent adventure to Moab from last week, but I think Mike took his camera to work... and I don't think he left pics on the computer for me... :( I'll have to add those later, but here's a quick update of some things.
(PS I got the camera!!!!! See post above for pics in a slide show!)

Went to Moab last week. Mike's work was doing a solar installation on the roof of the Moab Arts & Recreation Building/Center (they call it the Marc there, which left me speechless the first few times trying to figure out who Mark was... duh Vick!!) The array (arrangement of solar panels!) looks really nice on their roof. And Mike & Co always always always do great clean work so the WHOLE thing looks fantastic, and they even cleaned up after themselves. I love that I can say that about them. They are good boys!

I hiked around Arches one of the three or was it four days we were there... yah, it was very pretty, and I was very adventurous for a pregnant lady travelling solo in a huge park with little to no cell phone service... I went about half-way through the Park Avenue hike. That was cool. I hiked to the end of the lookout to Delicate Arch, the upper one, then upon reaching the top and thinking "man that is far away! AND that was a long uphill walk." I turned around and went down the hill to hike the small (okay it was 20 feet) length to the lower lookout, and amazingly got the same view... So, if you are planning on just doing the lookout, go for the lower one; saves time and energy. You can even use the same zoom on your camera and get the same pictures. But if you have the time and the energy and aren't 7 months pregnant, go for the LONG walk all the way to the Arch, I've heard it is great. I also hiked in to see Skyline Arch (it might be Skysomethingelse Arch, but this is my blog so I'll name it what I please). That was fun. I saw bunny tracks in the snow and only one other person had been there to mess up the snow besides me and that darn rabbit. It was cool to get that close to an arch, but that one is way up there!
I drove to the Devil's Garden Campground and that was neat. I'd stay there it was very pretty. Oh, side note, when in Arches in the winter, wear fleece lined jeans, the wind is SO cold. But with the sun out, you'll still feel great if you are really workin hard, which I wasn't.

We ate at some interesting places. Eddie McStiff's (oh my what a name). Moab Brewery (I highly suggest this hot spot, and not for the brew!). And the italian place on 100 North. We ate at some mexican flavor restaurant that had great chicken taquitos, but I wouldn't highly suggest them... I think that is all the eating out we did. The hotel had great breakfast (HA! Not!) but I ate there happily for free every morning.

Pregnancy: I got told to "lay low" for the next 4 weeks. If it causes me to have contractions, stop doing it (which means it by the way you didn't need to know that but you do now!!!) And I could use some more water I guess. Oh, and he said, "constipation is not your friend either so don't do that"... LIKE I WOULD TRY FOR THAT ONE!! Yup, I AIM for that daily. heck. And baby is doing great. I got a great picture of her left hand at rest. She napped through the ultrasound this morning. Hands up by the sides of her head, a lot like Elise slept. Oh and her feet are still in my right ribcage if you need to know. Due date still the same... and heartburn is raging still. I did get a prescription for something new to try on that front. I've had my last after dinner shake/dessert until she's born cause that is a sure-fire way to end up with an all-night session of heartburn, acid reflux AND no sleep.

This post needs pics... I'll get them on here tonight. Arches was SO pretty.

Love to ya'll!

Nie Nie is Back!!

Okay so she's been around the whole time, but she just posted on her own blog this morning.

We all love you Nie!!

Have You Ever...

So I'm going to tell one on ME today.

I answered a phone call from Mike tonight and walked back to the kitchen to sit down to my lovely Campbell's Tomato Soup (to which I added some cooked red peppers that I threw in the blender) with a dollop of sour cream (fat free of course) and a sprinkle of shredded cheese... I supported the phone between my ear and my shoulder and grasped the chair with two hands to scoot my big body in under the table so I could enjoy Mike's work story that he was rambling, I mean telling me, about. And what would you know, the phone, my prized cell phone (I've only owned three my entire life and the last two were the exact same make/model) slipped delicately out from my shoulder grasp and landed PLOP right into my soup bowl, and not just in the soup, directly onto the sour cream dollop.

Elise sitting at the table doing her homework bust up into laughter and I followed suit. What do you do when your husband is rambling on to a bowl of soup? I suppose laughter is the best medicine in this situation. I delicately fished it out (where was my camera?? oh yeah, in the other room it would have made a fantastic photo. I'll stage it if my phone dies a tomatoey death.) and turned off the phone call. I texted Mike "Sorry, I dropped my phone in my soup call back tomorrow. Looks like I can still text though drive safely". Then tried to call my mother, I could dial, but I can't hear anything and obviously I can't speak through sour cream.

Amazingly enough, Mike isn't upset with me about it.

So here goes, have YOU ever dropped your cell phone (mid-conversation) into anything peculiar?

I dropped my last one in the dog's water, it survived like a champ. I was talking to Mike then too... should I stop talking to him??

Be careful out there.

P.S. ~ The Cell Phone Lives!!! Another testament to electronic devices. Wow!

Christmas 2009 Slideshow