I've Been Tagged!

The "Other Nikki" tagged me earlier this week. Here goes:

4 Jobs Ive had

1. Photographer at JCPenney Portraits
   
2. Server at Assisted Living Home
   
3. Jamba Juice
   
4. Administrative Assistant for Rx Sleep, a Sleep Disorders Clinic
   

4 Places I have lived

1. Torrance, Ca
   
2. Salt Lake City, UT
   
3. Henderson, NV
   
4. Sugarhouse, UT
   

4 people that email me regularly

1. Christie
2. my bank
   
3. stores
4. Robyn

4 TV shows that I watch

1. LOST
2. Super Nanny
   
3. Biggest Loser
4. Greys Anatomy (used to)

4 Things I look Forward to this year

1. Having a baby!
   
2. Going to California
   
3. John's graduation
   
4. Summer

I'm adding one more:
5. Getting a second car---finally!

4 Things I love to eat

1. Cafe Rio
   
2. Pineapple
3. Sushi
4. Smoothies

4 Places I have been

1. Hawaii on my honeymoon
   
2. Bahamas on our babymoon
   
3. New York for a day
   
4. Boston for a week
   

4 Movies I love

1. Titanic
2. Audrey Hepburn movies
   
3. Napoleon Dynamite
   
4. Doris Day non-musical movies
   

4 People to tag

1. Robyn
2. Jacci
3. Melissa C., because you probably don't know that Nikki tagged you too
   
4. Becca, just as soon as you get a blog
   

Cabin Yodeller

While blog hopping (yet again) tonight, I found this sight where you plug in your name and it comes up with a list of anagrams. Marshall's and John's weren't very cool, but when I did mine it came up with
Cabin Yodeller
It's really not that funny, but at 1:00am it had me laughing hysterically! And of course because it reminded me of all the good times at the Richard's cabin in Island Park, all because of the word "cabin." I know, I'm crazy. Ok, here's John and Marshall's:
Bad Lyre John
Which is funny because John is a very bad liar, but can it really be an anagram if it didn't even scramble his first name, hmm?
Radar Blah Smelly
was the only one of Marshall's that actually used real words. What a stupid waste of time!


Here's the link. What's your anagram?

Apparently I'm living in the wrong city

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

Easter Pictures

Marshall's Been Tagged...

10 Things about Marshall...

1. Marshall will not eat sandwiches, he picks them apart and eats the meat and cheese off them or eats the PB half and then the Jelly, if it's tuna he makes gagging noises and won't touch it. His main lunch standby is good ol' Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Oh, I guess he does like grilled cheese, especially dipped in tomato soup. Other than that he'll pretty much eat anything.

2. Marshall refuses to let a bandaid come within 2 feet of his skin. He has loathed them since his two-year-old check up when the Dr. gave him shots and then put bandaids on, he equates them and neosporin with pain.

3. Marshall is very loving. Several times a day he comes around for a hug or a cuddle. He loves to snuggle before he goes to bed at night. When we try to leave his bed he grabs our arms and holds them against his chest, begging us to stay.

4. Marshall is 100% boy! He loves all things boy: trains, cars, construction, football, soccer, baseball, pirates, dinosaurs, super heroes. He is so fun, at first I wondered what I'd ever do with a boy, but I learned quickly and now we play like boys all day!

5. Marshall is a mess maker. If I'm cleaning one area of the house, he's destroying another. Some recent messes include breaking up un-cooked spaghetti noodles all over the floor, cutting up the lint from the lint filter, smearing the liquid soap all over the bathroom sink, splattering the washing machine in the kitchen with finger paints, and let's not forget the toys he dumps out all day long.

6. Marshall could take baths all day long. Lately he's been staying in there for up to two hours. He just splashes around with his toys. He has so much fun. He never actually asks to take a bath, but when I tell him it's bath time his little face just lights up.

7. Marshall loves going places. Every morning he wakes up and asks where we're going today. Mostly nowhere since I never have a CAR!!! Luckily we have preschool two days a week, and thank goodness for weekends. I also have a great mom who lets me use hers a lot. But he loves the zoo, the children's museum, and basically anywhere that's not home.

8. Marshall likes to play pretend. Lately he likes to pretend he's a kitty or a baby. He meows and cuddles or he says "gagaga" and cuddles, so funny.

9. Marshall is exceptionally tall for his age, he has been since he was born. When we went in for his three-year check up the Dr. thought we were there for his fourth. When he measured his height on the graph Marshall measured 97th percentile and was average for a four-year-old, which explains why he is in 4/5T clothes when he's only 3!

10. I love Marshall to death. He is a perfect boy, so cute, so funny, and so fun! I love being his mommy and I'm so lucky to have him.

We tag Carter & Berklie, Henry & Jetta, Jackson (I know you just did some for his bday so you can totally opt out), and Lucy and anyone else who wants to.

Our First Doctor Appointment!

This afternoon John and I went to meet our new OBGYN, Dr. Yamashiro. We both really liked him, he's funny and really personable, we were really impressed. I haven't gained any weight yet, which is really good, especially since I'm only 10 weeks. My blood pressure was nice and low and the baby's heart rate was a great sounding, healthy 165. We even got to see the little peanut on ultrasound! Which was so cool because with Marshall we didn't get an ultrasound until I was about 17 weeks and in the ER. Oh, and there's only one baby, that's good news even though twins would be fun. It did measure a little small, the Dr. thought more like 9 weeks 1 day instead of 10 weeks 2 days, but he also couldn't really get a good angle. He said they'd only change my due date if it was a difference of 10 days though, and they won't know that until the ultrasound at 20 weeks. We're excited, it was fun to see an actual little baby in there, it even moved for us. It definitely makes things seem more real now.

Potty Training Boot Camp

This week is spring break for Marshall, which means we have no preschool to interfere with potty training. We've done the undies thing on and off for a year and he's had a potty of his own for almost two years. Finally, we decided enough was enough. He hates having his diaper changed and of course we hate changing them. After talking to several mom-friends who have been through it with their kids, I felt I had enough know-how to do it. On Saturday we went to Wal-Mart (I know, I know) because they are rumored to have durable undies that withstand the hardship preschoolers place on them. Marshall picked Diego and Spiderman undies because Lightening McQueen was out of stock :( But, he was happy with his choice. I didn't want to start our first day potty training on a day we had church and the Bradley's, so Monday was our next option. Here's our potty training journal...

Day 1: Monday, March 17

This morning Marshall went swimming with his grandparents and cousins. After he got home he had a #2 in his diaper, I changed him and let him pick out which undies he wanted. I explained that Diego wanted him to use the potty now and not go in his undies anymore. We reviewed what to do when you "have to go" and I quizzed him after, he knew it all and seemed proud of himself. Every hour or so we went and used the potty, he didn't fight me or anything. I made a huge deal every time, no treats or toys or anything, just clapping and excitement. He didn't have any accidents the whole day. When John got home he told him he stayed dry all day in his new undies and he was beaming with his little three-year-old pride! So cute! We put a diaper on him for tonight, I think we'll do this for a little while, I have a friend whose son gets up once a night to go and I'm not ready for that yet. One step at a time, right? Plus, we have to use up all the size 6 diapers and pull-ups. I just hope tomorrow goes as well as today did. We have to run a few errands so we'll see, but I definitely plan on bringing along a spare of undies and pants!

Day 2: Tuesday, March 18

Today went great! Marshall put up a little resistance at my suggestions to use the potty but by the afternoon he went into the bathroom on his own for a poop and one pee. He only had one little "leak," not even enough to be called an accident but I think he was just busy playing. As soon as he realized he had leaked he went to use his potty and do the rest in there. He even went on errands with my mom while we went to our first Dr. appt. and didn't have an accident! I am so excited to not have him in diapers anymore and I think we timed the training perfectly, he was ready this time.

Day 3: Wednesday, March 19

Marshall had accident after accident. It drove me nuts! After a couple good days I guess I expected today to go well, too. This morning he had two little accidents, nothing major, just wet undies. Then, he made it onto the toilet but didn't pull them down. Next, he pulled them down, but didn't sit down, needless to say it was all over the bathroom floor-yum! The afternoon was better. He even ran some errands with me and my mom and stayed dry the whole time.

Day 4: Thursday, March 20

Today was great, much to my surprise. John's parents took everyone to Discovery Gateway Children's Museum this morning. Marshall used the potty (with a lot of encouragement from me) three times while we were there. We went straight to the grocery store after and he stayed dry there, too! I was so glad to not have to use either of the two extra pairs of pants I'd lugged around all day.

Day 5: Friday, March 21

We stuck around home today and things went well, no major accidents. This evening we went to the Bradley's for dinner and to say goodbye to Michael & Mel and family, no accidents!

Day 6: Saturday, March 22

We ran errands and went out to lunch with no accidents.

Day 7: Sunday, March 23

Today I was a little worried sitting through three hours of church. We took him to the bathroom when we got there, before primary, and on his way to class. He did great all day even through his egg hunt and visiting both my mom and John's parents. We're so proud of him. We'll see about next week, I'm a little worried about preschool, but I probably shouldn't be because he's done so well.

Day 8: Monday, March 24

Marshall did well again today, he even did two poops by going in all by himself with no prompting.

Day 9: Tuesday, March 25

Did great, we missed preschool because he woke up in the middle of the night with a 102* fever, so we'll have to wait until Thursday to see how he does there.

Day 10: Wednesday, March 26

The last couple days I have been asking Marshall if he needs to go, instead of telling him it's time. This has worked really well and is making him more aware of when he feels the need to go. He did all of his business on his own today when he needed to. I didn't ask him if he needed to go once! I don't know what happened, but when I came in to wipe a dirty one, there was a little on his undies, he may have started to go then realized it. I am glad he caught himself in time and thankful I didn't have to wash them out. Who am I kidding? I would have just tossed them!

Day 11: Thursday, March 27

So I realize that none of you care about Marshall's toilet usage, but I do, OK? Plus, this is helping me see his progress and I can look back at these two weeks and say, "Thank goodness that nonsense is over with!" Anyway, today was awesome, he went to preschool and used the potty before going outside to play. He had skid marks again, but oh well. He was very independent and closed the door since he saw my aunt do that yesterday while she was here, normally we leave it open. He's decided to go private though and said, "Hey! Leave that closed while I'm in here!" With as much Marsha-'tude as he could muster. So I left but stayed in the hall peeking in since I've recently heard tales of toilet paper dispensers being stuck in the pipes by curious three year olds (you know who you are). I think our next step is getting him night-trained. Any suggestions on how to do this? Oh, and he woke up with a dry diaper after sleeping in 'til 8:30! YES! Thank you child. So we hurried and went potty and boy was his little bladder full.

Day 12: Friday, March 28

Again, no accidents. We even played at Great Grandma Marshall's all afternoon and went to get ice cream with no accidents. Yippee!

Day 13: Saturday, March 29

Marshall had soccer this morning. John took him because I woke up with a killer headache and sore throat and went back to bed to sleep it off. He had one accident when he got home and another this afternoon. The later one he was in the bathroom going potty, we thought, but apparently he couldn't get his pants pulled down in time by himself and was too stubborn (or something) to ask us to come help. Oh, well, you have to give the boy credit for doing so well the last two weeks or so. I also think his routine was off since I wasn't with him the entire morning.

My Life in Song Lyrics

So, I often find myself thinking about my life through music and how some songs represent how I'm feeling at the time. Does this happen to anyone else? Anyway, I started thinking about song lyrics the other night and wondered if I could put them in a chronological order explaining my life. Some of them won't make sense to you but they're either a song I heard during that time or lyrics explaining my thoughts and feelings. This is what I came up with and I'll update it if I think of more:

The Early Years
1983- Rockabye Baby
1983-1985- Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder
1985- Snips and snails and puppy dog tails
1987- This house is a broken home

Elementary
1991- ABC, 123
1991- I'll be right here waiting for you
1995- I saw the sign
1996- It's a hard knock life for me

Junior High
1997-1999- Why do these tears come at night?
- I'll never let go, I'll never let go
- Does anyone care 'bout happiness
- There's no need to argue anymore
- The Phantom of the Opera
1999- If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
- I don't wanna miss a thing

High School
2000- You can run you can hide but you can't escape my love
- ...Girls who wear Abercrombie & Fitch
- It's not easy to be me
2000- Standing here until you make me move, hanging by a moment here with you
- You're feeling guilty and I'm well aware but you don't look ashamed and baby I'm not scared
- Stronger than yesterday, now it's nothin but in my way
- You knock me down but I get up again, you're never gonna keep me down
2000- As we go on we remember all the times we had together, and as our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever
- This is a song written in the showers at Aspen Grove: Every body, yeah, wash your body, yeah, everybody, wash your body right, Marshall family's back! Oh my gosh we're back again, brothers sisters everybody sing. If you wanna shower better bring your towel, cuz we got it going on somehow.
2001- In your eyes I see forever
- I would runaway with you, cuz I have fallen in love with you
- The time you're coming back, I can't take the distance, I can't take the miles 'til I next see you smile
- I would walk a thousand miles if I could just see you tonight
2001- This nation that I love has fallen under attack
- We will show the world our nation will not fall
- I'm 32 flavors and then some
2002- Always there when you call, always on time
- I'm a hazard to myself, don't let me get me
2002- Once in every lifetime there's a chance to stand apart
- No more drama
- Had that Honda loaded down with Abercrombie clothes and 15 pairs of shoes....headed off to the west coast
- It's getting hot in here
- Girl put your records on tell me your favorite song
- Lose yourself in the moment
2002- I like you the way you are when we're driving in your car and you're talking to me one on one

The last 5/6 years
2002- We were strangers starting out on a journey...now here we are starting at the beginning...in the end I wanna be standing at the beginning with you
- I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and find out this promise is true, I will never have to go back to the day before you
- Straight to the temple like true Mormons
- My friends from high school married their high school boyfriends, moved into houses with the same zip code as their parents live
2003- I don't get many things right the first time, in fact, I am told that a lot
- Even when I have to push just to see how far you'll go, you won't stoop down to battle me... you stay the course you hold the line, you keep it all together, you're the one true thing I know I can believe
2004- Your love is better than ice cream, better than anything else that I've tried (Sarah's concert)
2004- I was waiting for someone, for a miracle to come...I was waiting for you
-Godspeed little man, sweet dreams little man, oh my love will fly to you each night on angel's wings
2004-2008- Everything I do, I do it for you
- Every day I fight a war against the mirror, I can't take the person staring back at me
- My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to, your dreams stay big and your worries stay small... I hope you always forgive and you never regret
- Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
- We don't have the means to rise above and beat it
- If I were a rich man
- Can't get by with my 9 to 5
- Rushing and racing and running in circles, moving so fast I'm forgetting my purpose...pace of the world I just wish I could stop it...tired of rushing, racing, and running, I'm falling apart...I need to sleep
2008- She's got a baby inside and holds her belly tight all through the night

P.S. I tag anyone who wants to try to do this for your life, it was really fun!

Jumping the Gun

I've had my eye on this crib bedding for about a year and I was terrified it would sell out before we find out what we're having and I'd never be able to find it all on eBay separately. So...I ordered it a couple weeks ago! Yes, it's for a girl and we totally don't know what we're even having yet. Well, unless you count the three dreams I've had that it's a girl, the pencil test says it's a girl, the ring over the tummy test says it's a girl, and Marshall says it's a girl. So, it has to be a girl, right? So every weekend I wash the old crib sheets for Maddie, today after I stripped the crib I decided to 'try it on for size.' I just love it, it's so dang cute and even if it's not a girl this time I'll hang on to it until we have one. I was limited to girl bedding that had green in it so it would match the existing walls in Marshall's room. Plus, I absolutely LOVE green for a girl room, now I just need some green gingham curtains (sorry Christie, I know you were rooting for pink but I have to be gender neutral for Marshall's sake). For those of you who have or will inquire about us moving-we're not planning on it any time soon. So yes, they'll have to share a room which we have absolutely no problems with mostly because we have no other choice. The baby will sleep in our room for the first few months anyway. Below are the pictures I took of my experiment today. Oh, and please don't hassle me with comments about how I don't know what I'm having, why would I waste money on girl bedding, because I've already put up with enough of it from family and friends, and quite frankly your opinions on the matter don't, well, matter, thanks!

The quilt is what sold me on the set, now I
just need some cute girly decor to put on the shelf above.
I'm thinking a tea set and a doll.

I don't LOVE the skirt, I wish it was
more embellished and not so white, but it's still cute.
Maybe I could exchange it for a green chambray and see how that looks?

Yay, I get to buy pink things, finally!
Oh wait, I guess I can't say that yet.

A reminder of what Marshall's bedding looks like.
I think they go pretty well together.

Since this picture has been taken, I have removed what remains of the wall border that matched his baby bedding. All that remains of the cars, boats, trains, and planes is the valance above the window. Sad, I loved it at the time. But I also love snuggling him in his nice comfy big boy bed.

Bacon Bits

The other night I was blog hopping and I found this blog called The Belly Diaries that this cute lady does about her pregnancy. I read from most recent to her very first blog and then downloaded her CD, which is amazing (Jennifer Thomas "Key of Sea")! Anyway, in one of her posts she talks about her and a friend eating a pound of bacon between themselves in one sitting. So, when I was grocery shopping last week I walked past the meat counter at Harmon's and I swear they were cooking bacon and I could smell it calling to me! Immediately all I wanted was a big fat serving of bacon! I waited a few minutes to see if the craving would go away but it never did so I ordered a pound and figured we'd have it for dinner that night with some scrambled eggs. I hadn't had bacon in so long and it was so deliciously good. I saved a little and had the rest last night. Why is it that bacon is so good? I just love it and now I just want more dangit!

On another note, I was reminded of something totally funny that goes along with my other stupid things I've said (scroll down the post to second to last question for other stupid Nikki's):

My dad, Riley (12 yr old sis), and I were playing a game. He was trying to get us to guess a word by giving us these clues:

-You eat it for breakfast.
-It comes from an animal.
Riley: "Milk!"
-No, it comes from a chicken.
Me: As if a light went on: "OH, bacon!"
All: Laughing hysterically.

Wow, I really think I was dropped on the head too many times!

The Makings of My First Book

Dedicated to the talented Laura Numeroff and her infamous "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" children's series.

If you give a pregnant woman a glass of milk with dinner...
She's going to want Oreos to go with it (cravings).
When she thinks of Oreos it reminds her of the days her little bro and sis ate them ALL. THE. TIME.
This was in the old days before her stepmom (tried to) ban food dyes and sugar of course.
When she remembers the old days she starts crying because she misses them (hormones).
When she misses them she is reminded of the many camping trips they went on.
When she thinks of camping she remembers the time Sarah (the stepmom) put a pack of gum in the opened bag of Oreos and got mint flavored Oreos.
When she remembers the mint flavored Oreos she is reminded of her craving.
When she is reminded of her craving she quickly emails her husband to read their latest blog entry (HINT HINT).

I don't even know what to title this entry

"There's something in my nose and it hurts!" is never a good line to hear from your three year old, nevertheless this is what I heard after being in the bathroom for only TWO minutes this afternoon. My mind immediately thought, "Oh NO! How do I get a hold of Josh?" Our family's ENT and John's oldest brother. Then, I saw the Kirkland bag of trail mix on Marshall's lap. OOOH NOOOOO! "What's up there?" I asked Marshall as I hurriedly pulled his finger out of his nose to prevent him from pushing it further up. Before he could dissolve into tears at the thought of seeing a doctor I grabbed a tissue (and the camera) plugged his other nostril and said "BLOW!" It was still up there. "Harder!!!" Phew, it came right out. Afterwards Marshall thought the whole thing to be very funny. I tried my hardest to keep a straight face as I explained that next time he might have to go to the doctor, whom he hates, but it was so funny and I was so relieved to have it come out right away. Plus, I was proud of myself for remaining calm in the face of danger and not frightening him more. Is it hereditary for cousins to want to stick small things in their orifices and cause their mothers great moments of stress?! (The incident to which I refer can be found here.) It must run in the genes to be curious because when I was little, on two separate occasions, I had a cherry pit and tic-tac up my nose and my dad, in his high school years, got the eraser part of a pencil stuck in his ear while itching it during a test and forgot about it until he was on his mission. I know it's not really hereditary, just a normal kid thing so they have stories to tell later. If he's only three and doing this stuff, I am truly scared for what the future holds.

The offending peanut

That wasn't too fun

What's wrong with putting peanuts up your nose, mom?

No! Eww! Don't eat it, it was just up your nose!

Hopefully this is the "What was I thinking?" look

Note: that is finger paint on his face, clothes, and arm, not blood!

Before there were peanuts...

This is the very bland post (comparatively) you would be reading if Marshall had not put a peanut up his nose.

Title: Ketchup and Mustard
Artist: Marshall Bradley, age 3
Medium: Finger Paints
Technique: The handprint smear

The proud artist himself

It doesn't taste like ketchup and mustard!

Look mom! I managed to get it in my hair, face, mouth,
and on my shirt, jeans, socks, and floor!

Yes! I am pregnant!

I finally have a minute to blog about it because Marshall is asleep and I have a few (very few) ounces of energy left in me to write this. The short version is this: we're pregnant! The long story is this:

Last February John, Marshall, and I spent spring break near Aspen Colorado where my step-mom and sibs are living. We packed up the car and headed out of town to go home at about 8:00 pm so we could drive through the night while Marshall slept. (Preface: We had been talking about the name Boston for a girl in the previous months and Marshall knew that was to be his sister's name someday.) So about a half an hour into our drive Marshall asked, "Where's Boston?" To which we said, "She's in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus." Marshall replied, "No! She's right there!" and pointed to the empty seat next to him. Chills. Wow! So, that night driving home, John and I felt that she was there watching over us as we drove, it was an amazing feeling and that is how we knew to start trying to get pregnant.

Fast forward to July 1st when I take a few positive pregnancy tests, tell my family a couple days later, only to be spotting by the Fourth of July where I then announce that I am no longer pregnant. I was embarrassed and we thought we'd learned our lesson about telling people too soon, but neither John nor I are great secret keepers.

Fast forward again to January when we decide this is the last month we are trying, then we're seeing the Dr. and going on Clomid (fertility drugs), our next option. My periods have been irregular since having Marshall, so it's always hard to predict when I'll start but I tested about 6 times the last week of January. A tidbit of information about me: I start testing waaaaay too soon, and consequently end up taking a TON of tests before they're actually accurate, but like I said I never know when that will be. The night of January 31 to February 1st I watched my visiting teacher's five kids overnight while she and her husband were out of town. She had left us corn dogs to eat one night and I should have known by how deliciously good they tasted that I was pregnant because in 'normal' life I would never eat a corn dog! So, when I got home February 2nd I woke up and took a lab-grade test (one of a pack of thirty that my sis-in-law snagged from planned parenthood for me!) and it also happens to be my last one (which tells you just how many I take each month and why she knew to just grab a whole boxful). Well, there is the faintest of faint lines staring back at me and I don't get too excited, but text my sis-in-law to see what it means. She immediately calls back and exclaims, "Congratulations, you're pregnant!" I tell her I'm not getting my hopes up this time, I'm going to get more at the store before I celebrate. After my hair appointment that morning I stop at Albertson's and buy a pack of three First Response tests. I took the first one immediately, negative. The second one the next morning, negative. The third I think I took Monday morning and...Negative! I was so bummed and expected to get my period within a day or two. Thus far I have taken a total of NINE tests!

By Wednesday when I saw no signs of Aunt Flow I decided I could retest. John stopped on his way home from school and bought a pack of two more tests. I think I took them both that night and there was no question that there were two pink lines!!! The next day I went out to lunch with some friends and got a couple of the planned parenthood tests back and took those over the next couple days just to make sure I didn't have a July repeat. This brings the total amount of tests taken up to 13! I think I may have set a record.

So, originally the plan was to wait until Easter to tell people. This would have given us enough time to see the Dr. and be out of the first trimester. But one night about a week later John's mom was telling him about the rotten day she'd had and John wanted to brighten her up. News spread like wildfire and two days later everyone and their brother (literally) knew. So, the news is out, we told my dad and sibs last week along with Grandma Marshall. Marshall even told his preschool teacher at snack on Thursday that there was a baby sister growing in his mommy's tummy. We don't know it's a girl, Marshall just wants one really bad I guess.

Anyway, I feel great. Marshall's pregnancy was way easy, I never threw up, just got nauseous if I didn't eat. This time I feel even better, no nausea whatsoever. I am a lot more tired than I remember being with Marshall but it's actually really nice to lay down at night and actually fall asleep right away! My upper female parts are very sore however. Overall, I'm just glad I'm not puking my guts out and that I'm finally pregnant. I have no complaints! Our first Dr. appointment is March 18th. Oh, and our due date is October 13. That makes me eight weeks tomorrow. Actually, because of leap year, Christie swears the extra day puts me due at October 12. But, because of the wonderful fuzzy head placenta brain pregnancy so freely gives me I can't really figure out why in my head so I'm just taking her word for it. Every day counts when you're pregnant, right?

I do love corn dogs now, with Marshall it was hot dogs, but who wants one of those when you can have a crunchy outer shell that tastes like honey and corn? And, as always, pizza! Yum. I am trying to control the cravings better this time since I know the consequences now. But I keep a frozen stash of each in my freezer just in case. John has made it clear he is not supporting my cravings this time.

Anyway, that's just an update on our pregnancy because I know some of you have been wondering.

Places to go, people to meet

We've had so much fun lately with Marshall's little buddy Asher from preschool. First, we signed up for soccer, then we went to Discovery Gateway with him and his mom, and today we took Maddie and went to the zoo with a bunch of their other friends. We're also signing them up for the same preschool class next year at Cottonwood High. I am so excited that Marshall has a little buddy to do things with now who happens to have a mom that I like, too. Asher is so cute and follows Marshall everywhere! If Marshall takes off without him he'll start crying. Once he got lost and when I found him he was in the museum gift store on the floor crying, not for mommy, but for Marshall. Today at the zoo was so nice. The weather was beautiful and so pleasant, the kids were all well behaved, including nine month old Maddie who didn't make a fuss the whole time! She just enjoyed watching the action from the stroller. I hope our baby is as good as she is, it sure makes life easier.

The House Ghost Strikes Again!

Here's what our House Ghost has been up to lately:

What you are looking at is a picture of the tools from a game of Marshall's inside a bag of Mission Tortilla chips. A few days later Marshall was snacking directly from the bag and found a bolt I had missed. With a grin on his face he held it up and said "Hey, how did this get in here?" Hmm, Marsh, I wonder?

Marshall's Prayer at Lunch...

This is Marshall's prayer today over lunch, macaroni and cheese, his favorite:

"Heavenly Father, fankful for dis day. (Looks around room) Fankful for the pictures (he'd just painted), fankful for Vercy (see 2 entries down), fankful for mommy, fankful for the chairs, fankful for the table, fankful for the bowls, fankful for macaroni. Nourish our bodies. Amen!"

It is so cute listening to his little prayers lately. Sunday night after spending time at the Bradley's he blessed each and every one of them individually! So funny.

Folding arms for prayer at Thanksgiving Dinner 2006

Anyone selling their car?

So, with John's new job being clear out in Draper near point of the mountain we are desperately in need of a second car. We are so lucky to have made it the last five years by sharing a car, although it's been tough and quite the hassle at times. I am actually very proud of us for getting by on just the one! Well, two actually, if you count the car I totaled last year and the car that replaced it. This year we have to use our tax return for a car, a cheap car, a really cheap car, a really really cheap car. You get the point. So, if you or someone you know is selling their car, and it's in decent condition (aka it's not going to cost a fortune in repairs), let us know, please!

Vercy

For the last month or two, Marshall has been talking about his friend, "Vercy." A couple days ago Marshall painted a picture of himself and Vercy. For the most part we believe that Vercy is an imaginary friend, but sometimes Marshall will tell me or my mom that we're Vercy. On this particular day Marshall told us that Vercy was his friend that moved to Virginia. That's where his cousin-friends moved last fall and so I think Vercy became the replacement friend. It made me sad, we really miss Laine and Eve! It's cute that he has a little imaginary friend to play with though. It makes me think of mine, Mimi and Didi, scapegoats in crime!

Marshall's New 'Do

Marshall had a haircut scheduled long before I posted the quiz, but thanks to all the input! I thought it was time for a change, so we went a lot shorter! It still has tons of wave and even more body. He goes to my stylist, DeEtte, who I've been going to for nearly 6 years now. He just loves her. A couple weeks ago in primary, Marshall learned that Heavenly Father made his body and all week he was asking me if he made this or that, like his ears or nose. Then one night he asked me "Who did make my hair?" and I said "Heavenly Father" and he said "No! DeEtte did make my hair!" So funny! So, here's his new haircut, doesn't he look a lot older? And, he looks more like me now, too (see below).