Pregnant in America

Some of you know I'm a bit obsessed with birth stuff. I haven't seen this new documentary but I think it looks like it's going to be good. I did see The Business of Being Born and it was awesome! We need to be more educated.

I'm not sure how to put the video on here, but it's the link for the trailer. http://www.pregnantinamerica.com/newsite/trailer/youtube/

Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. A lot has happened in 8 years. Ryan graduated from the UofU with his degree in Mechanical Engineering. I went to 2 semesters at 2 different colleges. We're not always sure why I didn't get my degree at the same time, but it might have been because I had no idea what I wanted to graduate in. We've moved 3 times, Ryans had 3 jobs since graduation, we've had 3 kids and I've only had ppd 2.5 times.

I think back to when we met. I was a bit of a flirt and by the second time we met I held his hand and sat in his lap. No, I didn't say second date, just the second day we met. On our second date we were asked how long we'd been married. Before we were officially engaged, I had already made our reservation for the temple. One thing I didn't realize at the time was that we had planned to get married the same day as the UofU BYU football game. If I had known or even cared, I could have put a tv up at the front door of the church with the game on. In 2000 this day was the day after Thanksgiving. We picked this day because Ryan was going through the Calender seeing what the pictures were for the months. Luckily there was a good picture for November because he wanted to get married over Christmas. I thought it was silly and we should get married around Thanksgiving. We were able to have all my family there because they also came for the Holiday.

A week after we got married we got in a car accident. I got to spend 3 days in the ICU and we moved in with my parents until Christmas so my mom could take care of me. The nurses were Giving Ryan a hard time that he was trying to kill to me. It's not like he would have gotten any life insurance from me.

I feel like there have been a lot of things happen but there are still more to come. One day I will get to go back to school and get some sort of degree. Some day Ryan might get his dream job. We will get to watch our kids grow up, date and move out. We might actually get to move into a house! 8 years is a long time, but really not that long when I think of all the things to come.

Growing up is hard

This year has been tough on Owl. When we pick him up from school, Monkey will tell him about places we've gone or things we've done. Owl then proceeds to get really upset that he didn't get to come. I didn't realize he would get so upset, but it makes sense to me. He has to go to school while Monkey stays home and has fun. Owl has requested numerous times that he be home schooled so he can stay home. He says this because people say I'm homeschooling Monkey when I tell them he isn't in Preschool. First, I don't think Preschool is neccesary. I want to keep my kids home as long as I can. Second, there really is no homeschool teaching going on. We just play and have fun and if he learns something, great!

Ok, so I had to explain to Owl that Monkey is at home with just me and the baby. He doesn't really have a lot of kids to play with. Before Owl went to school, we went and did all these same fun things. I even explained to him that for the first year of his life, he had me all to him self. He get's to go to school, meet all these fun new friends, have recess, art, music, lunch, and learning all the cool things he learns. It's sort of helped and he's not getting upset as much, but he is still sad. I try to tell him once Monkey starts school next year, Frog and I will do things without them but they will do so many fun things without us, every day, and we're getting left out. I don't know if it helped any, but I tried.

Beauty

I haven't been watching Oprah as much as I used to. In today's episode it was all about beauty around the world. Iran does the most nose jobs. Brazil is all about diet pills. In one country they put gold rings around their necks to make them longer. I don't understand where a lot of these traditions, stresses, whatever you want to call them, come from. Why can't we just appreciate how we look? Why do we feel like we need to fix everything or change who we are? Can't we be big, little, pointy nosed, round nosed, flat tummy, round tummy? It's just crazy to me that we can't be happy with the body we have.

I also bring this up because I went to the going out of business sale at Mervyns on Saturday. I had the bright idea to get one of those tummy slimmers. I really thought it was a good idea. I mean how bad could it be to wear something that holds your tummy in. Umm, yea, it's not fun. I was going to wear it Saturday night to the Real game with Ryan. I took it off as fast as I could. I could barely breath and I started getting a headache. I guess I could say 'it's for the sake of beauty', but you know what, I think I might just have to accept my spare tire and get over it.

Second attempt

I found a whole bunch of blogs with little girls hair styles. I thought if those ladies could do their daughters hair in the "Holy cow" way they did, I could do pigtails again. Thankfully Frog's hair is longer and she is more cooperative than last time. I just don't know about this whole, making these little girls hair so fancy. Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a mom of a fancy haired daughter. It doesn't help that I don't know how to do anything with my own hair.










I've also never really done her hair because she has this awesome curl in the back. Why ruin something that already looks great?! OK, so I'm taking the lazy way out, but I do think it already looks really cute.

Family pictures

Here are a bunch of pictures from our family shoot. My friend Natalie did them. Here's the link to see more pictures http://nataliebaldwinphotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/for-marly.html I think they turned out really great.

















I can't ever seem to figure out how to get the pictures to post how I want them to. I wanted them to be side by side, maybe I'm doing them too big?

Getting sick

For some reason in the past couple years I haven't gotten very sick. Probably because Ryan is no longer going to school. There's something about college students who have to go to school sick.

A couple days ago I woke up with a scratchy throat. It wasn't too bad and I figured it would turn into a full on cold. Instead it has just taken away my voice. How am I supposed to tell the kids what to do when I don't have a voice. Frog just thinks I'm weird and doesn't know what to do with me. I really do hope it comes back soon so I can continue doing my job full force!

I also wanted to mention, Frog is now walking everywhere! It really is true once they decide to do something, they do it, no holds bar. On Monday she started getting up all by herself and walks all over the place.

I will try to figure out my new video cameras program so I can put a video of her walking.

Walking & Quitting

Frog is finally walking! I've been waiting for it because the boys walked at 11 and 11.5 months. I figured because she sat up at 5 months, crawled at 7 months and started pulling herself up about the same time, I really thought she would walk sooner. Yes, I know, she is only 12.5 months, but its just strange for me. She is very cute when she does it and she can't get up if she falls. She will crawl right back to us, pull herself up and start walking again.

There have been a few issues at Owl's school. I'm not exactly sure about all the details but our parent council all resigned because of issues with the Director. Like I said, I don't know all the details but I'm a little annoyed. We had this great idea for a box top push for this week where the class who brought in the most would be able to win prizes. Its not going to happen now. I think the committee I was on will try to do it another time, but we can't do it without our leadership. I don't understand why some people think the parent volunteers are useless.

Since I was on a roll quitting things, I figured I would also quit my wards playgroup. I have been sort of in charge of it, mostly because I wanted something and I figured I would quit talking about it and just plan it. I just kind of got tired of trying to think of days, times and places that would work. I'd really like to move into a ward where this is all done and I can just show up.

We're thinking we'll try to get a walking group in the morning, but really its a friend and I who thought we'd include everyone else. Hopefully we can find a way to get a key to the church because its just too cold to walk outside with the kids.

Super Saturday

Today was my wards Super Saturday. I was excited to be able to get together with some nice ladies and maybe get to know them better. The problem is, I'm on the committee. I made the mistake one time of making one of these nice ladies, a pie. Yes, you'd think a pie couldn't get me into trouble. Well, it can if its a unique pie. I like to make zucchini pie. Why do I like to make zucchini pie? Because it's yummy and tastes just like apple pie. I also love to tell my friends what it is and make them try it. Then all my friends who say they hate zucchini can now say they love zucchini pie ;). I know, I'm manipulative that way.

Because of this mistake I made, I was asked to do a pie demo. I was trying not to get nervous about it. I know I've mentioned this before here, but I really don't like being up in front of people (I know you're thinking "but she writes this on the internet, what's her problem?" Well, I don't have to look you all in the face to do this). I was in a ward for 5 years before they got me to speak in sacrament meeting.

I tried to get everything all ready. I was even trying to do prep by cutting up the zucchini before anyone came in. I think I could have done this part better had I not gone wandering around. Oh and maybe if I had gotten up before 9:00, when I was supposed to be there at 9:00 to help set up. By the time it started, I was partly through with the prep work. I realized I forgot my rolling pin. Ryan had to run home to get it. Instead of using a fork to mix the dough, I used my hands. I was just so nervous to even think. I didn't start boiling the water or preheat the oven. I really felt like a fool. Oh I also forgot extra flour so my dough kept sticking to everything! During all the moments of silence, I told people to share their thoughts on pies. One of the reasons I didn't want to do this was because I have so many older, experienced pie makers in my ward and I felt like there was nothing for me to add.

I did successfully make a pie in front of 10 or so people. I wasn't as bad as I thought I was going to be but I also wasn't as good as I wanted to be.

My great reward came when those who said "I really didn't want to try this, but I did anyway" Loved it! Yes, you can make zucchini taste good :) but, I don't recommend making it in front of people. I might also have to rethink baking for people, or maybe get over my fears.

November

I am so happy. I have been waiting for November to be here since the beginning of October. Ok, seriously, since the beginning of the year. I'm sick and tired of all the election stuff. I want it all to go away. Really, I just want to be in charge of things but since that's not going to happen, I guess I'll have to watch someone else mess up the country. I'm also happy to have my budget restarted. last month was just too long and I kept wanting to not be 'gazelle intense'!

A friend of mine offered herself up to take pictures. At first I thought it would be fun to get pictures of the kids and then she said we could do family pictures too. I asked Ryan if he could take the day off so we could get there in enough time. She asked what kinds of backgrounds I wanted and I didn't really know. All I had seen lately was friends pictures in front of trees or long grass. We were able to get in a spot where there were a bunch of old buildings. The walls were gorgeous and I'm excited to see how it all turned out. The crazy thing is there were 9 other photographers there. She said she'd never seen that many. I guess they've all heard its a great spot to take pictures. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them back. She took a bunch and the kids were actually better than they had ever been. Probably because there was a change in scenery and they weren't stuck in a small space.

For Halloween the boys were Star Wars characters, again. Seriously, since birth they've been Jedi's. I guess Monkey branched out and was Darth Vader, but I was thinking its about time. Next year they will be something different. I'm not sure what yet, but I'm done. I do want to try to sew them something, so I now have a year to figure out what. Any ideas?


Oh yea, baby girl was a pumpkin. A very cute one too. Ryan wanted her to be yoda, but I didn't. Guess who won? ;) I thought about going to the store to get a wig and I could go as a brunette. It didn't happen though. Maybe next year.