Nathan's Blessing

Scott blessed Nathan today in church. It was a beautiful blessing. Here are some pictures of Nate in his blessing outfit provided by Grandma Goddard. He looked pretty handsome in his white baby tux. Everyone was disappointed Scott didn't lift Nate up to show him off after the blessing.


And, here are some pictures of our little family that is growing so much. I can't believe I am the mother of two incredible little boys.

Saturday at the Lake

We spent Saturday at a really fun lake about 40 minutes from our house. Its called Greenwood Lake. It is partway in New York and partway in New Jersey. It almost felt like we were at Bear Lake in Idaho/Utah. It was awesome. It had the small town feel that we miss so much being here so close to NYC. We went to the beach, dinner, ice cream, and then fireworks. It was a great day to spend as a family and I am pretty sure we will go back because the creamery we got ice cream at was awesome.

Jeff took a while to decide it was okay to get some sand on his feet.

Our little family, with our addition. Nathan loved the beach... actually, he slept right through the whole visit to the beach part of the day.

This was just a cute picture of Jeff. Man, he has the cutest little smile.

Jeff putting his feet in the "big foot" tracks that Katie and Scott made in the sand. By this point he was okay with getting a little gritty in between his toes.

Jeff loves his daddy, but this picture doesn't show it so much. :) He is gripping onto Scott's nose so he doesn't fall when Scott leans back.

My Scott

I just don't post enough about my Scotty. He does so many incredible things and since he is too humble to tell anyone about them, I get to. :)

So, as many of you know, Scott has to take these grueling exams for his profession as an actuary Between work, family, church, and studying for exams... he doesn't have too much free time. For a while, this was Scott's schedule.

7 a.m. leave for work
7 p.m. get home from work and eat dinner
8 p.m. start studying
11 p.m. stop studying and go to bed

As you can see, it was a tough time for all of us. So, we were pretty excited for the day when Scott took his exam and didn't have to study any more. It has been awesome to have him all to myself (except for work and church). So, we were a little disappointed when Scott felt pretty certain he had not passed his test. But, all that disappointment vanished a few days ago when Scott found out HE PASSED!!! So, all those hours without him paid off.

I asked Scott if I could tell everyone how smart my husband is, but he only gave me permission to tell people he passed. So that's all I'm going to do. :)

The boys

We had our pediatrician appointments for the boys today. Here are the stats on the boys and their growth.

Jeff
Weight: 50th percentile
Height: 90th percentile
Head: 50th percentile (for all of you who have ever seen Jeff's head, this may surprise you)

Nate
Weight: 95th percentile
Height: 95th percentile
Official doctor's comment: "Wow, this kid is growing like crazy".

Just so you all know, Nate has already gained a pound. I mentioned to the doctor that he hardly ever poops. She said it looks like he is absorbing just about EVERYTHING he can to be growing as fast as he is.

Other things we learned... Jeff has a slight heart murmur but the doctor said not to worry too much about it. She also said Jeff is a little delayed in his speaking but way ahead of the game for his fine and gross motor skills. She also mentioned that he is a pretty good flirt too. As far as the speech delay, we are planning on ignoring it for a little bit longer. I am going to work on talking to him more and narrating my day to him. I'm also supposed to read to him. I know I should read to him... but the kid wont sit still long enough to get through a small board book, let alone 20 minutes a day of reading.

So, that is the update on the boys. They are healthy and happy for the most part. I am so thankful they are such healthy kids. I know it isn't always like this, so I am very grateful for a good doctor's appointment.

P.S. Jeff got three shots. He cried until they brought the lollipops and then he was all smiles. Its amazing what a little sugar will do for a kid.

Nate

Here is a cute photo of Nate. He is such a good baby! He only cries when he's hungry or if he pees on his own face. He has successfully caused diaper changing drama three times. The kind of drama that ends up in a washer full of messy pillows, clothes, sheets, and blankets. It is pretty comical. But look at that face... he can pee and poop all he wants with a face like that.

Two boys

This morning, I was sitting on the couch looking at my new beautiful son when my other beautiful son came to talk. He patted his little brother on the head, put his blanket on him, whispered in his ear, talked to him, and kissed him three trillion times.

As I got up to eat a scrumptious breakfast that my hubby made for me I mentioned to him that I didn't know what people were talking about when they said it was such a big step to have two kids instead of one. I think these were my exact words, "having two is fun".

While I still think this is true, I have to say that after making that comment the morning changed. Nathan struggled with his next feeding which made him fussy. Jeff seemed to react to a sad brother and started wailing and was inconsolable. It seemed my entire blissful morning was completely shattered.

But, after a good feeding for Nate and a long nap for Jeff, the blissfulness of two came back. It is wonderful! I know there will be frustrating times when two will seem really tough, but I also know that there will be many sweet moments when I can look at my boys (Scott included) and be thankful for how lucky I am to be sealed to them forever. As I sit here writing this, I can't believe how I could have stepped into such a wonderful situation. Saying "yes" to Scott has made my life incredible.

I just have to add this, because I feel when you feel grateful you should express it. Scott was and has been incredible through this whole delivery/recovery experience. He was my rock during the delivery. He was the perfect support team all by himself. I could never have done it without him. All week he has been cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and waking up in the middle of the night to take care of Nathan and up in the early morning to take care of Jeff... I could tell you more and more, but I don't want to brag too much. :) Lets just say Scott is my hero, and I get to have him be my hero forever.

So, now that the pregnancy posts are over, you get some fun post-pregnancy posts. :)

Big Brother

Jeff is enamoured with his new brother. He is gentle and loves to give him kisses. He knows it is his baby and says it over and over again. Scott and I were both surprised because we didn't know if he really understood that he was getting a new buddy.

This is the first kiss from big brother to little brother. We caught it on camera by some stroke of luck. I'm sure there will be many more kisses between these two who are fast becoming best friends. :)

Here is my cute niece Katie, who is here in New Jersey with us playing nanny... without much pay. :) She is holding down the fort with Jeff back home and is doing a splendid job at it too. She is so awesome to come out here and help us. We also have lots of plans for her while she is here. All of which involve having fun!!

Oh yeah, the official name is Nathan Klyn Goddard!!!

Baby Boy Arrival

Well, we had our baby boy this morning. Here are all the details...

1:00 a.m. I woke up to a contraction, but I wasn't sure.

1:30 a.m. I nudged Scott, I nudged Scott a little harder, and he did wake up eventually. :)

2:30 a.m. We called the doctor to tell him that I had been having contractions for an hour, four minutes apart.

3:00 a.m. We got to the hospital. I was dilated to a 4 and 90% effaced.

5:00 a.m. I got my first epidural.

5: 15 a.m. My water broke.

6:00 a.m. I got my second epidural because the first didn't quite work.

6:47 a.m. Our little boy joined us after I pushed for 17 minutes.

He is:

20 1/2 inches long

8 lbs 9 oz

healthy

blessed with a full head of hair (thanks Scott)

So, there are all the details I can think of so far. Scott was an incredible coach. I could have never done it without him. Really, he was incredible. He could coach labor and delivery with the best of them. I almost forgot, as soon as the baby was born he peed all over the doctor. I think that means he will either be a Doctor or a Lawyer. Either way, it was pretty comical. :)

We will try to keep the blog posted. Thanks for all the support and prayers from our family and friends. We feel very blessed!

Tummy Talk

People have begged and pleaded for this photo... so here it is. :) Okay, so maybe begged and pleaded is an overstatement, but nonetheless you get a glam shot of me at more than nine months pregnant. I haven't seen myself from this angle really, so it is probably as much a shock to me as it is to you. I

can't believe how big I am. It must be the black shirt against the white wall. But then... isn't black the slimming color. Oh man... I guess I will just have to face the music and realize that I am just big. As a side note to some who have not seen me in a while. This pregnancy not only added an enormous bump to be front side, but also turned my hair more red and curly too. Pregnancy does weird stuff.

Oh yeah, with all this tummy talk, I almost forgot to say that I went to the doctor today and he told me I am dilated to 3 cm and am 50% effaced. It made me happy. The best part, I haven't felt anything. Nothing like progress without pain. :)

These are a few pictures of Jeff and his beloved measuring tape. He doesn't leave home without it. He doesn't go to bed without it either. He has had it in his little paws for the past two weeks and the only time I can pry it out of his fingers is to give him a bath. (I don't want it to rust). I'm not sure which he is more attached to, his tape measure, or his blanket his Grandma Goddard made for him.

Jeff loves the missionaries. Here is a fun video of him sharing a piece of cake with one of our favorite Elders serving in the ward. Elder Rodriguez is awesome, he is from Brazil and has only been a member for a few years. He is the hardest working missionary and will knock doors all day long because he knows how much people need the gospel from his own changes. He and Jeff have a special bond. They better if he will share his cake with Jeff.

This is a video of Jeff being a little Brett (my little brother who is on a mission in Belize). He is measuring stuff with Karen (my landlord) and then has to take a phone call on his cell. If any of you know my little brother... this is him to the "T". He is a farmer who spends most of his earnings paying his cell phone bill each month. It just cracks me up. Those farmer genes are strong.

I have started going to the grocery store on Saturday mornings at about 7:30. This way, I can get there before it gets too crazy with Saturday shoppers and I can go without Jeff thus avoiding the huge bumper car shopping cart that is all but impossible to maneuver without taking out a few cute grandmas.

Last week was the first week and it was great! This week... was not so great. The problem really doesn't have anything to do with grocery shopping at all. It has to do with me.

It all started in the dairy isle. I decided to get a bunch of the single serving cups of yogurt instead of a one of the big cartons. There was one fatality as I was putting them in my cart. The employee who had to clean up the mess kind of glared at me as he scooped up all the strawberry yogurt from the floor. It was like in slow motion watching the yogurt slip out of my hands onto the floor.

Then, as I was leaving the store somehow my grape tomato packages slipped out of my cart and spilled all over the floor too. Okay, so now in one morning I have successfully dropped two things on the floor. You would think I had filled my dropping quota... not so.

At home, I was emptying the dishwasher and dropped one our plates to its shattering death on our tile floor. I almost started to scream because I was so tired of dropping things. Scott quickly made me feel better by explaining that I am pregnant and it isn't my fault.

So, along with getting a baby within the next week or so, I am really excited to get back my ability to hold onto things and stop dropping everything and anything that gets into my hands. Hopefully this transition takes place before I hold the baby for the first time.

Just in case any of you are skeptical about it not being my fault... the paragraph below is from BabyCenter.com which is as reliable as The Bible. :)

Is it normal to feel clumsy during pregnancy?

Yes. Many women feel ungainly when they're pregnant, particularly in their last few months.Clumsiness comes as no surprise when you consider what your body's going through: You're carrying more weight, your center of gravity has shifted with your growing uterus, and hormonal changes can cause your joints to loosen, including those in your fingers and toes. You'll get your balance and dexterity back after you give birth.In the meantime, protect yourself by remembering that you're not at the top of your game when it comes to muscle control and coordination. Try not to put yourself in situations where you have a high risk of falling — like climbing a ladder or standing on a chair to change a light bulb.Put your high heels away for now and wear stable, comfortable shoes. Take special care when walking on wet, icy, or uneven surfaces and when going up or down steep steps. Take it slow and use handrails whenever possible.

It's amazing that a kid can go from this...

To this...

In as little as a year and a half.

I am continually amazed by the human body and all that it can do. I remember sitting in my anatomy and physiology class in college and just being completely in awe at what the body is capable of... in fact, I was so in awe that I pretty much didn't understand 50% of it. Incredibly, I still passed the class. As I think about having another baby and all that takes place to make that possible, it just gets even more magnificent. It is another testimony to me that there is a God. We are created by him in His image. It really is amazing!

Random Pictures

Here are just some random pictures to give you a taste of our lives this past week.

Jeff stretching with Scott before Scott went for a run. I realize this is a bad picture because you can't see anyone's faces... but I have to be sneaky when I try to catch anything Jeff does on camera. He likes playing with the camera more than posing for pictures.

Jeff wearing his favorite outfit.

Scott and Jeff sitting on the steps of NYU after we ate at PB&J and Co. It is a crazy gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwich place in the city.

Me, Jeff, and the big belly. It is hiding behind Jeff mostly, but you can still see it.

Here is Jeff doing some more stretches with Scott. He cracks me up. Such cute boys I have. :)

My babies

So, I decided we needed a post that wasn't about pregnancy. :) So, you get to hear all about my babies.

I decided to plant a garden this year. I started my little seedlings inside the house and watered them. And talked to them. And put them in the sun when it was out. And did all I could to help them become big and strong.

Then came the day to put them in the garden... outside. I have to say that I think this will be a big preparation for me when it comes to sending my boys (or girls) on missions. It was one of the hardest things to do. Putting my sweet pampered little seedlings out into the cold cruel world.

Some of them died. Some of them are still alive. I hope some will grow up big and strong and bring me lots of (I almost wrote grandchildren) produce. I will probably post some pictures later. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if you don't get to see pictures of Jeff for a while because my life will be consumed with my babies (the plants that is).

So, there is my non-pregnancy post. :)

Thoughts of the prego

I know you have all probably been anxiously awaiting the next "pregnant lady vent" post. And now you can rest easy, because its coming your way. :) Let me forewarn you that you might want to skip this post. It really is just me thinking and typing all at the same time. Its not so much a vent as it is... well, I guess it is a vent. I just have to talk about my thoughts and feelings relating to the new addition we will have soon.

I feel so much better about this delivery as apposed to Jeff's. I know I have mentioned before that the first delivery was hard. I have to say that a lot of it had to do with circumstances unrelated the actual arrival of Jeff.

Here are a few:

1. We had to change Doctors and hospitals last minute because of communication errors about where our insurance would work. As Jeff came early, we didn't have a Dr. that delivered at the hospital we had to go to. Thus, we ended up with a Dr. I had never met who was pretty ticked that he had to deliver my baby.

2. We didn't understand that we could say "no" if we didn't want a certain procedure done. We basically did what we were told and therefor had a few procedures that we plan on avoiding at all costs this time. I will spare the details just in case I have a male cousin or someone reading. :)

3. I don't want to trash on the care I received, but let me just say that about five days after I had Jeff and I was recovering at home, I discovered that the nurses/doctors forgot to remove some gauze from inside of me.

4. I was also pumped full of drugs to induce me because my water broke and had to deliver within 24 hours. I hear that contractions can be much harder when pit is introduced and when your water breaks.

Okay, so enough of the complaints. I have to say there were a lot of great things about my past delivery. As I said my water broke in the middle of the night. When Scott and I got home with our baby from the hospital. We found our apartment completely cleaned. Yep, my visiting teacher and dear friend and come over and washed my "water broken on" sheets as well as done all my dishes and turned on the AC a few hours before we arrived. How amazing it was to feel so loved.

Also, I was able to get some great help from a breast feeding clinic that didn't charge a thing. It was incredible. They did jaundice tests, weighed Jeff before and after I fed him to make sure he was getting enough to eat, and helped me learn how to nurse. They were also the ones that made the call to my pediatrician to tell her that Jeff probably needed to be readmitted to the hospital.

And I can't leave out that we got the cutest little boy on the planet. I still can't believe he has any of my genes. He is just too cute!!!

So... all that being said. I have to again say that I feel this time is going to be a much smoother ride. I have a good Doctor. I have a great hospital that has complimentary valet parking. I have a great husband who is the best birthing partner I could ask for. I have experience from the past that will help me plan a better birth this time. And I just feel good about it. I am also focusing on having a positive outlook because I think it can make a difference rather than expecting the worst.

Okay, this is a super long post. You don't have to read it. I will try to avoid future vents as a pregnant lady. Just lots of thoughts going on in my head and I had to type them out. Its therapeutic.

I wonder if some therapists recommend people blogging (even if no one reads it) to work things out in their minds. Huh... I'm feeling a new book I could write. "Baby steps to Blogging" (If you have ever seen "What about Bob" this will make more sense. :)

Logger Jeff

This is Karen (our landlady) who Jeff absolutely adores. Karen doesn't have any kids of her own and she is wrapped around Jeff's little finger. He watches out the window for her every day. He never lets her leave after her visits until he gives her a kiss. She is great. I have to say we have the very best landlords anyone could ask for. They have been doing tons of fixing up in the back yard. Sawing down trees, digging post holes, and planting grass have been a big part of our lives these past few weeks. Jeff loved wearing the saw helmet and ear protection. The best part of all this backyard renovation is that we get a fully fenced in yard for Jeff to play in. I have a feeling he is going to be spending many hours outside this summer. He is such an outdoors kid.

The Winner!!!

Well, Daija, you are the official winner of the bread recipe, but I couldn't only give it to you because this recipe is just that good. I think that you are the type that would like to share the wealth.

Amie, you lucked out, but just an FYI this isn't my mom's recipe, but it will become one no doubt.

Christine, your confidence just didn't bring in the winning answer, but you can still have the great bread.

Okay, so here is the best bread you will ever eat.


Oatmeal Wheat Bread

1 1/4 cups warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup oatmeal (old fashioned or quick, it doesn't matter)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 or more cups all purpose or bread flour

Combine ingredients in order and add the flour until the consistency is just right (not sticky, but still all together in one clump). Then let cover it with a warm damp cloth and let it rise until it is double in size (about a 1/2 an hour). Then squish all the air bubbles out of it and shape it to fit your bread pan. Place it in a greased bread pan and let it rise again covered with the damp cloth until it doubles (again, about a 1/2 and hour). Then bake it at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

I have found that if I let it get just a little too dark, then it has a better consistency. If you can keep in in the house long enough, and you want to soften up the crust over night, just put it in a plastic bag after it has cooled and by morning it will be nice and soft.

Scott's Exam

So I was going to do a post giving you an example of one of Scott's problems from the actuary exam he will take on the 15th. I was also going to offer a TI 89 (code for super cool calculator) to anyone who could come up with the right answer. I ran into two problems.

1. I don't have a TI 89 to give out to the winner.

2. Apparently the computer doesn't have any way to do math equation symbols that I need to be able to type to give you the problem.

...Oh boy, oh boy! Are you in luck. We found one without funny looking lines and Greek symbols that I can post. Here we go. And since I have already admitted I don't have a TI 89, I will give out the most amazing bread recipe to the person who gets the right answer. Good luck. Oh, and trusts me, you will at least want to take a stab at it cause this is seriously the best bread EVER... and its healthy.


CRAZY ACTUARY EXAM QUESTION SAMPLE

Which of the following statements in incorrect?

1. The Sharpe ratio will increase if the risk-free rate decreases.
2. The Sharpe ratio will decrease if the expected rate of return decreases.
3. Assets whose prices are not perfectly correlated cannot have the same Sharpe ratio.
4. The Sharpe ratio equals the risk premium of an asset divided by the volatility of that asset.
5. The Sharpe ratio will decrease if the volatility of the asset increases.

Hint: this has to do with option prices (like with stocks).


Oh, and just for the record... I don't have a clue what any of that I just typed out means. I guess if I truly were a supportive wife I would try to understand what my husband is spending so much time doing. Sadly, I only know he is taking a test, and I am jealous of all the attention those books are getting.

My favorite four

places I go
1. the library
2. the grocery store
3. the church
4. the doctor's

people who email me
1. brett
2. my mother-in-law
3. my RS president
4. the primary president

favorite foods
1. cafe rio (there is not in jersey... so sad)
2. steak
3. fresh fruit
4. smoothies

places i'd rather be
1. visiting friends and family in idaho and utah
2. wherever scotty is
3. hanging out on the farm
4. in a home that i own

movies i could watch over and over
1. return to me
2. the princess bride
3. home videos of jeff and scott
4. home videos of me when i was little (i know, i'm so vain)

people i think will respond
1. amie
2...
3...
4... i don't think there are too many bloggers out there that haven't already done this.

The update...

So, thank you to everyone who was worried about me. At about 5 a.m. things slowed down and I was able to go back to sleep. I went to the doctor and he said I was not dilated and that if I were to go into labor, it would be okay. He seemed to think the baby would be fine.

When I had Jeff my water broke and I missed the whole "going to the hospital" dilemma. Now I am scared to death of going too late, and scared to death of going too soon. I voiced my concern to the doctor and he told me that I should go to the hospital when the contractions are about four minutes apart for more than an hour... which is exactly what happened last night. So... his explanation didn't help at all. I called my well seasoned mother of four (not my mother, but a friend who is a mother) and asked her what she thought. She said to wait until I couldn't talk through a contraction to go. My hospital if 15 minutes away so we should be able to make it okay. My other friend is "on call" to meet us at the hospital to get Jeff when the big moment arrives.

I still need to pack my special little hospital bag. Last night I was frantically writing down all the things I should throw together in case we ended up heading the the childbirth center. You would think that I would have packed that silly bag this morning... nope. I mostly slept. :)

So, anything you would recommend I pack in my little bag of tricks? Any advice on when to go to the hospital? Any tricks of the trade that any of you are willing to share with me would be greatly appreciated. I know this is my second time around and I should know what the heck is going on... but alas... I don't.

Okay, I'm done now. This poor blog has become less of a brag blog of Jeff and more of a place to share with the world all of my craziness. I will shape up soon enough, I promise.

Why am I awake?

So, its 2:30 a.m and I am wide awake writing a blog. "Why", you may ask. Well, I'll tell you...

I am having contractions. I'm still trying to decide if they are real or just braxton hicks. I have been having braxton hicks since about 25 weeks. The difference is these are more frequent, and they are accompanied by lower back pain. I got online to find out what kinds of things to do to stop/slow down contractions and I came up with, "drink water". So, I'm sitting here, monitoring my contractions, drinking water, and writing a on my blog.

I'm not too super concerned right now. I'm 33 weeks. That is right at the point when it could be okay to go into labor. Mostly I am just relieved that if this is "real" that my water hasn't broken like last time. That was an abrupt beginning to labor. I would prefer for a nice slow entrance. I was 36 weeks when that happened. I'm not sure if I just come early or if this is just a little bump in the road on the way to a regular full-term delivery.

I'm going to take a little trip to visit the doctor in the morning if nothing else happens tonight. Just to check in and make sure everything is on the up and up.

So, thanks for listening to me. I know it is super exciting to listen to every ache and pain of a pregnant lady. Oh, and since I have you here. I will also share with you how often I have had a contraction.

2:06
2:10
2:15
2:17
2:20
2:25
2:27
2:31
2:35...

I know, you're thinking... those are pretty close together. That's what I'm thinking too. But, I also think might just be dehydrated. I think... I'll keep you posted. :) For now, I'll wait to see if my little stomach cramps get longer, stronger, and closer together.

Have a great day!

Without

So, our home computer crashed a few weeks ago and I am trying to get by using Scott's work laptop at night while he studies. It was going okay until we discovered that it took four hours just to check my email. For some reason his computer would act perfectly at work and then throw a temper tantrum when he brought it home. It has been driving me crazy. I had no idea how much I have come to depend on these little gadgets of modern miracles.

So, today Scott told one of his coworkers about it. His name is Joe. I know I shouldn't say this... but I could just kiss Joe right now. For some reason he knew that you had to write some DOS program to tell the computer that it didn't have to search for the drives that he has to use for work. Mostly because when he is home the computer can't find them and that is what was prompting the tantrums.

So, I am back online and happier than ever. I think I will forgo kissing Joe, for many reasons... but I will probably send him a little thank you through Scott.

Farm boy

The neighbors were having some work done on their yard. This meant that we had huge backhoes and dump trucks right out our back door. Jeff absolutely loved it! He watched them out the window for a solid half hour. He didn't even look back at me after the camera made the flash noise. That is truly a miracle. I think some of those farmer genes from my side of the family must have made into him. I think we will have to plan to send him to farm with my dad each summer. But not until he is big enough to drive a backhoe of his own. If he is anything like my little brother, give him two more years. Yep, four years old. CRAZY!!! That's just what farmers do when they need a helping hand. They put a child/toddler behind the wheel of a huge piece of machinery. I think I was more around the age of 10 before I started into all that. I must not have the gene as strongly as my little bro... or Jeff it looks like.

Just a side note, these pj's look to be that same John Deere green. He is so stinkin' cute in those things. I wish I could let him wear them every day for the next year.

Last Summer

This is a picture of us hiking as a family last summer. A friend of mine just sent it to me and it made me happy... so I wanted to share it. We have had the worst luck with losing pictures. It was nice to get these. Thanks Brandon!

Just for the record, Jeff did have a good time. I think by this point he was getting tired. If I remember right, he fell asleep in his backpack on the hike back to the car.

We hope to have some fun events this summer too. It will be a little tough with a newborn, but we are determined to still do fun things even when our kids are small. I just can't give up all the years that we will have small kids to sitting in the house.

One thing on our list to do is go camping and go to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It should be awesome! I just hope that I can do it. We will have a one-month-old by that time. Scott let me plan it with the understanding that I might not be able to go if I have a hard recovery or if the baby has any problems or stuff like that. This just might be a good way to kick-start my pioneer spirit. :) At least I'll have a month instead of a few hours.

This website needs more Jeff

Bath time... the little red spot on his shoulder is a birthmark. The doctor assures me it wont effect his abilities be a productive member of society.

Jeff is showing off his newly acquired funny face.
Here is some more funny face. It is hard to catch those little expressions on camera.

Jeff showing off his speaking skills. Even with a mouth full of Cheerios and a cartoon to distract him. :)

Tracting (is that spelled right?)

So, I went tracting yesterday with one of the sisters serving in our ward. Can I just say that I have a lot more respect for missionaries now. We were only out a little over an hour and by the time we were done, I was content to know that I would go back to my everyday life of playing with Jeff, watching Opera, and eating Bon Bon's. Okay, so maybe my life isn't that posh, but seriously, these girls work hard.

I don't think it was so much the physical part of walking around, but lets be honest... I don't walk all that quick these days. Pregnancy has a way of making my sciatic nerve hurt and now I usually amble along at a nice leisurely pace. I think it was more the fact the some people can be so rude, and I just don't like being around rude people.

When someone comes to my door, I usually invite them inside. Not so for us. We never got invited into any houses. In fact some would just talk through the screen door and one lady even talked through her little mailbox hole.

One lady yelled at us and told us she didn't want it. I could see she was elderly and I really wanted her to know about the health fair we were promoting... so I offered again. She got pretty ticked and yelled at me some more. I walked away and decided I wasn't going to let myself cry. This lady just didn't know how to treat people. Thankfully, I didn't cry, but only because I was with a sweet little sister missionary who was totally tough about it and we also had a 10 year old girl with us from the ward and it didn't even phase her. So, I put on my game face and we went for the next door.

I was also really impressed by how bold this sister was. She was so diligent to give out cards and share her testimony even when it was obvious people were annoyed. You would never think her to be so bold. She is so quiet at church and has a tiny voice that I am surprised that people can hear her.

So, to all of you sisters and elders out there... or once were. I just have to say I have a new found respect for you. Thanks for being so diligent and working hard, because I now see how hard it really can be.

He's got skills

My son is learning some new and exciting things these days. Like how to hit. How to pull all of the cushions off the couch. How to scream when he doesn't get his way.

I can't say I like all this one bit. He is at such a "copy cat" stage that anything he sees once he does all the time.

I am pretty sure the hitting came about after he had a Kong Fu (I don't know how to spell that) lesson from one of the boys in the ward. While its a cute idea, it hurts my face. The kid keeps telling me I need to enlist Jeff in a Karate class... no way.

The couch cushion incident came about because Scott built Jeff a fort and now everyday is a fort day. I really don't mind this one as much, it is just a kid being kid.

The screaming. Oh, the screaming. It is more like a high pitched grunt. If you were here, I would demonstrate, but since you aren't and I have no idea how I would put an audio clip on the blog, you will just have to imagine. This one came from a little girl in our ward who is just three months older than Jeff. She is a sweet little girl, until Jeff comes around and then she feels it her duty to be the alpha female.

So, now that my son has these really cool talents... I'm wondering what to do. How do I teach him not to hit? How do I teach him not to scream? And how do I teach him that the couch makes a great fort... every once in a while but not every single morning?

So, I am soliciting your parenting advice. I can't guarantee that I will use it all. But feel free to tell me what has and hasn't worked for you.

Oh and just so you know, my boy really is a gem. He gives the best kisses and loves to sing himself to sleep. He never stays out past his curfew and uses clean language that I still can't understand. He has begun to say "Day doo" and "Dah doo" which are obviously "thank you" and "love you". So, all things said, I think we will still keep him. We just need to tweak a few things.

He's coming...

It hit me yesterday... I only have 12 weeks left before the our baby boy will be here. 12 WEEKS!!! Folks that is not a long time at all. And if this little boy is anything like Jeff I only have 8 weeks before he will make his entrance.

We are excited for this little guy to join our family, but I have to say that this pregnancy and all the feelings that come with it are definitely different than the first time. I think that now that I know what I am getting myself into, it's a lot more intimidating. I keep thinking about all of the amazing women out there who have had like six kids, with no epidural. That leads me to think about all those women who had babies in some one room cabin with the neighbor lady there to help her out.

And then I ask myself this question... Why am I such a pansy? Women have been doing this for years with a lot less luxury than I will have in my warm hospital room with pain killers, and epidurals, and ice chips. What happened to that firefighter girl who was so tough and not afraid of anything? What happened to that basketball player who broke her finger and kept playing? What happened to that little girl on the farm who was so tough she ate ants? (thanks to my brother who taught me that it was cool) What happened to her? Where is she now, when I really need her?

Sorry to any of you first time moms out there. This post is not to scare you away from ever bringing life into this world. But to all of you seasoned (read: had a baby and survived) moms out there, any advice on how to get over my fears? Any tips on how to make labor and delivery painless? If you've got it, send it on!!! And do it quick, because like I said before... He is coming...

All about Scott!

HOW OLD IS HE? 26.

WHO EATS MORE? Scott.

SAID "I LOVE YOU' FIRST? Scott, I just said "thank you". A few weeks later I got up to courage and mumbled it under my breath when my face was smashed up against his chest. Amazingly, he heard it.

WHO SINGS BETTER? Scott for sure. He has all he talent in the family.

WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? Me.

WHO DOES THE DISHES? Both of us. I usually do, because I am the one home, but he does them whenever he is home and has time. Sometimes I would rather do them myself when Scott is at work so I can have the time. I am a super high maintenance wife, I want all of his time.

WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED? Me, is that weird?

WHO PAYS THE BILLS? Me, but most of them are direct debit.

WHO MOWS THE LAWN? Neither of us, we have never had to.

WHO COOKS DINNER? Me, but Scott is the Jello man. He does the Jello every Sunday.

MORE STUBBORN? We are both pretty laid back on most things.

KISSED WHO FIRST? Scott laid one on me after we had only been dating a few weeks, I was shocked, but it was nice and I didn't resist one bit.

WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST? This is a heated debate. I just happened to have an extra ticket to a Jim Brickman concert. I told him he could have it. We ended up going to dinner and sitting next to each other at the concert. But I did not, I repeat, did not ask him out. :) Just an FYI, this is the night Scott decided I was datable, before he had felt like I was too much like a sister.

WHO PROPOSED? Scott surprised me like crazy and gave me a ring three minutes before he left for a cruise to Alaska for ten days. I had told him a few days before that I thought we should date for another six months so I could get over my fears. He had none of that and got a ring the next day.

WHO IS MORE SENSITIVE? Scott is super in tune with my feelings, but he isn't a sensitive femmy type at all. He is pretty stoic in sad situations and can handle hard things better than me. Especially when I am pregnant. Whew, talk about emotional. :)

WHO HAS MORE FRIENDS: We share all of our friends.

WHO WEARS THE PANTS: Neither of us, we base our relationship on mutual respect and concern for each other.

WHAT IS YOUR SONG? The theme song from "The Man from Snowy River". I told him I loved the song once when we were dating. He went out, secretly bought the music, and memorized it on the piano. He randomly played it for me one day when we were just playing around on the piano. Seriously, this guy is too good to be true.

Look what I'm driving now...

So we made a little trade and I've been seen around Jersey driving this beauty! Seriously! I can't believe I am parking this "little" guy next to my house. It has been way fun to have have it, and I didn't think I would, but I like it a lot. The downside is that I have to return in on Saturday. Sad day.

So, the story is that our car has this issue with turning on its own headlights in the middle of the night. Our mechanic is a guy from our ward and insisted that instead of sitting in the shop waiting for it to be fixed we trade cars when we were both at the church on Wednesday. We were going to drive down to the shop to trade back, but he insisted that it was too far to drive all the way down and just to trade back when we got together for a party on Saturday night.'

I'm sure my landlord was a little surprised to see the beast in the driveway when he came out to warm up his car. So, we may be converted to the Hummer series of cars even if we will never buy one. I just can't cough up that much dough for gas, especially with the prices the way they are.

So, I guess this post is just to show you how amazingly wonderful and kind our ward members are. They are just incredible! I mean, if I really did own that baby, I wouldn't just hand it out to others to take for a half a week. And the funny thing is, we aren't the first family he has done this for. Super nice people in Jersey.

Charity after the dance

I am not a night owl. I never have been. I remember the time in high school I invited over some friends to watch a movie and my little brother ended up entertaining them because I fell asleep about five minutes into the thing. In college I would often fall asleep on the ride home from a date. I always tried to tell my date not to take it personally, that it really wasn't them... it was me. With that background I can proceed to tell you the story.

It was my junior year in college. A guy from church, who I wasn't interested in but was a nice guy, asked me to one of the many dances at BYU-Idaho. I got all ready with the dress, shoes, makeup, and insane amount of bobby pins in my hair. We went to dinner and it was fun. We went to the dance, and it was fun. We went to watch a movie afterwords... and it was not fun. I got carsick on the way there, and then my head started hurting (probably from the plethora of bobby pins in my hair). Not just your typical headache, but the hurting where you can't even lay your head down because the pressure of it touching anything hurts.

Finally, he took me home. I said good night and walked in my apartment door thankful that the night was finally over and I could go to bed. Oh... my wonderful bed that always welcomes me home with a nice pillow on the side. The problem was that I first had to take off the shoes, take off the dress, take off the makeup, and pull out every stinking bobby pin... oh I was beginning to hate those bobby pins.

I stumbled into the bathroom and began the task of first finding and then pulling out all of those metal wonders of being beautiful. I started... and then all of the carsickness, headache, and late night got to be too much. I handled it the way any grown up girl would... I started bawling and cursing the man who invented bobby pins (knowing it must have been a man with sadistic motives). I plopped down on the floor big dress and all and sobbed.

Then, she came. My roommate and best friend growing up. Amie carefully pulled out each pin without ripping out too much of my over hair sprayed, matted hair. She undid my shoes (which were also causing problems because my finger dexterity had severely suffered from all the trauma thus far). She helped me get my PJ's and even pulled back the covers on my bed so I could climb in without too much effort. She sweetly and carefully took care of her toddler of a roommate.

What did she expect in return? Nothing. And that is the beauty of true friendship and the charity that develops in one. She took care of me and hopefully someday I can return the favor, even if she doesn't expect it of me.

Ephesians 6: 13-17

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

For family night we decided to talk about ways to protect our kids from the bad things that are out there. So we turned to Ephesians, got out the cardboard box, and made Jeff into a little warrior.

Scott was the architect... and I must say he makes a mean shield and sword.

I claim the helmet. Not too exciting... but if you know me, you also know that I am no crafty, creative person.

Jeff loved the sword the most. Thankfully, all eyes are still in tact at our house. (note: the sword is just a kitchen spoon and isn't sharp)

Scott turned out to be a pretty cute little warrior too. :) Isn't he adorable?!?

After it was all over, Jeff tore everything apart and we had the lesson. It was a great night. I think my hubby is the cutest daddy ever. He loves to roughhouse and all that fun stuff that little boys love.

Snow!!!

Okay... I know he is a year and a half old... but I think this is Jeff's first experience of actually "playing" in snow. He was too little last year. After reading my friend Shawna's post, I decided to give it a try. I layers, and bundled, and took the plunge. I shoveled the snow to make a path, and he never left that path. He tried to help shoveling, but found it to be a lot harder than sweeping. He loves to help.

So far, he likes it... but then he put his hand in it (he wouldn't keep his gloves on). Eventually, it turned into a cry fest with me rocking my sweet boy until he stopped howling. Being born in California, I guess he has a lot of that still in him. More than I thought.

Later he really liked watching our landlord as he used the snow blower. Much more his style.

Speaking of style, isn't he just the cutest kid ever. I combed his hair today and it almost did what it was supposed to do. He has unruly hair like his dad. :) Oh, and on a side note, Jeff says baby now. He points to my tummy, pats it affectionately (sometimes with hostility) and says "Bebe". Too cute!!!

What have I been doing?

I'm getting into scrapbooking. This is my first page. It is from my trip to Holland after I graduated from high school. My friend has all the stuff, and I mean all of of it. She told me she would help me put it together if I would help her use up some of her material. What a deal!



I've also been busy lately... working on a quilts for the boys' room. I am making patchwork matching quilts for thier beds. I might do a wall hangning or something in the same colors... but I'm just gonna take it one project at a time.

Jeff likes it... or did he just want to get closer to the camera?



I've also been hanging out with this kid. He is such a fun little guy. He is talking more and more. But all of his words sound a lot alike. "Uh-oh", "Night night", "Bye bye", "Mom", "Dadad", "Ewe"... so on second thought maybe he isn't saying too much, but he has cute facial expressions. And he sings. He likes to sleep without a shirt on. And he is just cute... what more can I say.

This is all it takes to make an ordinary day into a romantic evening.
1. Sparkling Cider ($6)
2. Candle ($5)
3. Fondue Pot ($10- $20) I highly recommend that every married couple invest in one of these babies.

I found a great cheese fondue recipe. Scott likes it better than the one at the Melting Pot. I will include the link to it. I made a few changes. Instead of white wine, I used chicken broth. Instead of a tomato peeled, cored, and seeded (it makes me tired just writing it down) I used a little salsa. I will also include the bread recipe that was super easy and perfect as well as a pound cake recipe that is awesome in the chocolate.

Cheese Fondue
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Badgers-Cheddar-and-Ranch-Fondue/Detail.aspx

French Bread for dipping
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/French-Bread/Detail.aspx

Yellow pound cake for dipping in the chocolate
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Yellow-Pound-Cake/Detail.aspx

Late night

For any of you who know me well, you might know that I am not a night owl. In fact, I often don't make it to night time. Lately, I have been going to bed at about 9:30 each night. I know, I know, you can call me grandma. :)

So, last night Scott and I were staying up into the late, late evening (10 p.m.) talking about baby names and this is a conversation we had...

Scott: Lots of people call me Steve instead of Scott. I don't get it.

Me: Whats wrong with Steve?

Scott: I don't know, it always seemed like a nerdy name to me.

Me: Huh, (in slurred speech) no one has ever accidentally called me Steve... (and then I break into uncontrollable laughter)

Scott: Wow, great insight... thanks for participating.

As you can imagine, I had a good long laugh and then promptly passed out into a deep sleep.

Family

My parents have been here for the last week. It has been so great to spend time with them and show them what life is like for us here in Jersey.

Unfortunately, Jeff has been as sick as he has ever been. He has a cough, fever, and runny nose. He has had it for about five days now. Hopefully he will come out of it soon. My mom was a gem and took care of him much of the time. She watched him while we went to church. I don't know what we would have done without her. I couldn't miss because I was the only one there from the primary presidency and Scott couldn't miss because he had to accompany a musical number as well as play the organ during the meeting. She was such a lifesaver. She also helped me hem my drapes in one of our rooms.

My dad was great too. He spent all kinds of time getting everything fixed from the car to the chair in the dining room. He was pretty handy and now my house feels that much more put together.

It wasn't all work and no play. We also went into the city one day. We went to the Museum of Natural History, Stomp (a percussion show), and on the Staten Island Ferry where they got to see the Statue of Liberty. All in all I think we wore them out.

So, I guess this post is a tribute to my parents and the wonderful people they are. They teach me so much every time I am around them. I hope I can be the same kind of parent to Jeff that my parents have been to me.

Jeff as a baby

Here is a little memory from the past. Jeff is about a month and a half old here. No one believes me when I tell them that my little blond-haired boy was born with dark hair. Here is the proof.

Girls

Baby Girl
Nestled sweetly in your arms,
Is a touch of the Father's love.
A tiny, slumbering baby girl,
Fresh from Heaven above.
Cherish each tender moment,
As you look on her tiny face;
For you're holding a priceless treasure,
Wrapped in ribbons, roses and lace.

Soon, this tiny bundle of pink,
Will grow into a little girl;
With baby dolls and dress up clothes,
And a ballerina twirl.
With a sparkle in her laughing eyes,
She'll steal away our hearts.
What's that?... little boy parts?

We had our ultrasound today, the doctor made the call
and we were surprised to find
that what we had been expecting,
wasn't what we were expecting at all.
But when it is all said and done, we don't mind,
Now we'll have two of the same kind.
(Adapted from a poem by Allison Chambers Coxsey)

I just want everyone to know that I in no way claim to have any poetry skills in any way shape or form. I know I have probably messed up the rhythm and all that stuff. But I got a few rhymes in. :) I say this so no one will feel bad for me thinking I really think I have any ability. But... I thought it would be a fun way to share the news. And contrary to what it may seem like from the poem, we are super excited to have two boys. I am starting to see that I will be watching football for the rest of my life and that Pride and Prejudice won't be a commonly watched movie in our house. I think I can accept all of this. :)

Jeff's first girlfriend

Jeff just loves this little girl. When she comes over he gets giddy and runs around the house squealing with glee. He also does everything he can to get her do play with him and do all the stuff big kids do. I am trying to arrange a marriage, but this girl's dad is giving me some trouble about it. Sorry Jeff, I tried.

Face

I love this face!

Sacked out!

I just love these pictures because this rarely (like twice) happens. Jeff was playing in his room having a grand 'ol time and I was in working on the computer. When suddenly, I hear something I shouldn't hear... silence. I go in to investigate and this is what I find. Jeff sacked out with his favorite blanket, and a fruit snack package in hand. Too fun to see.

Basketball Charity

"The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, “the pure love of Christ” (Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes."

-Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I have actually been thinking about this post for a long time. I shared a lesson about charity when I went visiting teaching and that got my mind rolling and thinking about all of charitable acts others have done for me. So, these are not in any specific order but just some stories of things others have done for me that have really touched my heart and have stuck with me over the years/months/days. I have labeled the stories just so you know where one ends and the other begins... As it turns out, I think there are too many for one post, so I will just post one at at time and you can look forward to future heart-warming stories.

Basketball
In high school I played basketball. My senior season started out great and I thought I was going to be a big shot. Then, the tables turned. I started have bad game after bad game. I was really down about this. It seemed that no matter how much I pushed myself or tried to do better, I would only stress myself out more and have another terrible game with lots of turn overs and missed shots. To be honest, at the time it was devastating to me. I remember after one game I just cried me eyes out the entire bus ride home. Thankfully it was dark so no one else saw how pathetic I was.

Before one away game against a team who creamed us on our home court we all headed to the locker room to get changed for the game. It was kind of a foreboding feeling, as we all trudged out of the gym. Especially for me... because that one little red-headed girl was going to make me look bad again... and she was like the tiniest thing you have ever seen on the court.

As we were putting on our uniforms and fixing our hair (very necessary for girls, or else you end up eating fly-aways all night) I pulled my shoe out of my bag and started to put it on. I felt something in my shoe and investigated to find a note. Written in my little brother's scrawl was something like this.

"Dear Sadie, you are the best sister ever and I just wanted to let you know that I look up to you a lot. Good luck tonight. Love, Brett"

Well, I usually tried to hold my tears until after the games when I knew for sure it didn't go well, but Brettski's letter was an exception. It was just what I needed that night. It felt so good to know that even if I wasn't an amazing basketball star that my little brother looked up to me.

The game didn't go well. I got pulled after making all kinds of mistakes. But looking back, it really didn't matter.