best friends

As the oldest daughter I was able to be close with my mom because I could help with the younger kids (though I'm realizing now that I hardly did a thing.)  I can remember helping her decorate the house, plan for my siblings' birthday parties, and make food for different events.  Because I was the first of her children to grow up we've been able to have an adult friendship before any of the rest of my siblings.  She is one of my very best friends.

Because of this, I just assume that my daughter and I will be best friends.  It makes meeting her in the next few weeks even more exciting and nerve-wracking.  I hope she likes me enough to consider me a best friend.  I'm sure it will be easy at first as she will depend on me for everything, but I hope as she becomes more independent that we can have a close relationship.  I hope that she will always know how much I love her.


(Sorry if you're sick of baby, but it's only going to get worse folks!)

A Mormon and a Jehovah's Witness sitting at a bar

Sounds like a dumb joke, but this is the situation Bryan found himself in in Las Vegas.  Turns out most of the people there were totally into drinking/gambling all night after training was over.  One day Bryan found someone who said he wasn't into the whole party scene either so they decided to get dinner together.  They went to Planet Hollywood and the only seats that were available were at the bar so they went with it.  As they started talking, they quickly discovered their different religious beliefs.

Bryan said the JW was very devout in his faith and knew the Bible like the back of his hand.  He was pretty critical of our church, but also willing to listen to Bryan's answers and explanations.  Bryan was able to bear his testimony of the gospel, and in the end that's what counts the most.

When Bryan left for Sin City he never thought he'd have the chance to sit at a bar and talk about his faith.  But, these opportunities come up all the time, even when we least expect it.  I'm grateful Bry was prepared to share his beliefs.

Pumpkins in the Rain

Since we've lived here it has only rained once.  Today we planned to go to a pumpkin patch so what did the weather do?  Send us rain, all day long.  But I'm not complaining, I love rain.  We were some of the only crazy people who went out to get pumpkins today so we had the place all to ourselves!

Finding the perfect scary pumpkin:

Pretty sure my belly is just as big as the pumpkins we picked:

But, at least it's not as big as these ones!

Afterward we warmed up eating free chicken tacos at Del Taco- can't get much better than that!

37 Weeks!

In September Bryan went on a business trip to Seattle.  I was really hoping that he would get to stay close to home after that, but I guess that was too much to ask for.  His boss really wanted him to do a training so he has been in Las Vegas this week.  We gave baby a lecture and told her that while we are very excited to meet her this was not the week to come.  All week I've been keeping my legs crossed to not let her out.

But, today we are 37 weeks which means baby is considered full term and daddy is coming home tonight!  I've deep-cleaned our apartment, our hospital bags are packed, and we now have all the essentials (I think/hope.)  So, baby is welcome to join us at any time, and I wouldn't complain if she came sooner rather than later!

Voices

I've heard that babies are born knowing their parents' voices already from hearing them for the past 9 months.  I'm excited that the Little Miss already knows us (and is hopefully as excited as we are for the reunion!)  I'm very pleased that she will also know the glorious voice of Jim Dale.

This past month I've listened to 2 books read by Dale.  Peter and the Starcatchers was a fun and exciting story.  It was written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson so of course it was going to be a winner.  And, I re-listened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in preparation for the movie next month.  It had been a while since I read a Harry Potter book and I had forgotten how funny and well-written they are.   I am now so very excited for the movie.  My sister called me yesterday to report that she has already gotten her ticket for the movie and is planning her costume.  She was very concerned about our movie-watching plans.  I assured her that while a midnight show is not in our future, we will definitely see the movie.  If baby is the quiet kind of baby she will get to join us for her first movie (lucky girl), or if she is not the quiet kind of baby we have already requested Grandma's babysitting services.  

So many exciting things in one month- a baby and a Harry Potter movie.  I hardly know what to do with myself!

Finished!

About a month ago, Emily proposed a quiet book trade, where everyone makes multiple copies of a page and then you put them all together to get a homemade quiet book.  I was excited to have a project to work on and to get a fabulous book without having to do all the work myself!  I was assigned the clock page, and after many hours of work I am so excited to send them off to Emily today.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

Circle of Life

A couple days ago I  found these pictures that I had scanned for our wedding video.  We loved making fun of my parents' awesome 80s clothes and hairdos.  But now these pictures have a lot more meaning to me.  I have a little better appreciation for how my parents were feeling then, and I'm sure to develop a greater understanding in the next month.  Did they feel as terrified as I feel right now?  Were they as excited as I am?  Did they have any idea of what was to come?  Do I have any idea of what is to come?   

My mom's expression looks exactly the way I feel- full of wonder and excitement- and I haven't even gotten to see or hold our baby yet!

 When I look at these pictures I can't help but think, "Who let those kids have a baby?"  I wonder if in 25 years our daughter will look back and think the same thing.  I hope that she will make fun of our 2010 wardrobe and hairdos, and I hope that someday she will be able to say like I can that despite their youth and inexperience she had the very best parents.  

Forgetfulness

"Researchers have found that a woman's brain-cell volume actually decreases during pregnancy.  And- for reasons unknown- women pregnant with girls are more forgetful, on average, than those carrying boys."  What to Expect When You're Expecting (aka The Pregnancy Bible)

I thought I had gotten off pretty easy on this one.  Given my lack of brain-cell volume I have been able to function quite well for the past 8 months.  Until this afternoon.  I left to get a haircut and I set my book (remember this one) on top of the car while I was putting other stuff in the car.  I drove off and when I got to the salon I couldn't find my book.  That's when I remembered that I had not remembered to take it off the car before I left.  On my way home I watched the other side of the road to see if I could find my book.  Sure enough, there it was in the middle of a busy intersection.  I watched sadly as it was trampled by ignorant car after car.  Of course it is a hardback and borrowed from my parents (at least they are nicer than the library.)  Luckily I jumped on amazon when I got home and a replacement is on its way, but what am I going to read until then?!?!

Auburn Adventure

Bryan and I headed east to the town of Auburn on Saturday.  As we drove in we noticed a sign that said "Auburn, Established 1848."  Considering I grew up in a city that was established in 1737 I wasn't overly impressed.  But Auburn was able to impress me by the end of the day.

While Bryan did this:

I read my book (I'm on page 153 of 561 and really hoping to finish before baby arrives)

Then we walked down by the river.  I was delighted to see some men panning for gold, who knew people still did that?  Next time we're bringing some gear so we can find our own bling!  Crazy got in the FREEZING cold water and I just dipped my toes in.

 Then we walked across the tallest bridge in California.  This is the bridge from far away (the picture really doesn't do it justice)  and then a cool picture Bryan took from underneath the bridge (I wasn't brave enough to climb down the hill to go under the bridge.)

We ate at "Local Heroes" which had delicious burgers, fries, and shakes and not-so-delicious chicken strips (oh well, you can't win everything.)  

It was a delightful day and made me feel a little overwhelmed that our excursions are going to become a lot more complicated in the next month, but also excited that we'll have a cute little girl to share them with!  

Rolled Fabric Flowers

Yesterday I found this tutorial and now I'm hooked.  No fabric scrap is safe in my home anymore- they're all becoming adorable little flowers.  And my fingers are paying for them with hot glue gun burns, but it's all worth it.  There will be absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that my child is a little girl, we will make sure of that.

Conference Weekend

We thoroughly enjoyed our last child-free General Conference.  On Saturday, Bryan was gone so I put my aching body in the bath and watched Conf online- it was delightful.  Between sessions we went to explore Old Town Sacramento and came home with a bag full of tasty taffy.  The rule was that you got to eat a piece of taffy for every talk you stayed awake for.  It was a brilliant plan because I think for the first time in my life I stayed awake the whole time!  On Sunday we made these amazing cinnamon rolls (and when I say we I mean mostly Bryan because whenever a recipe requires letting the dough rise for an hour, then 45 minutes, then an hour again I lose interest.)  My favorite talk was President Uchtdorf's (not a surprise, his usually are my fav.)  If you missed any, or if you just want to listen again go here.

Completely unrelated funny story- A few days ago we bought our tickets to fly to Richmond for Christmas (yea! yea! yea!)  This morning I called the airline to let them know that I will have an infant flying with me (yea! yea! yea!)  The girl asked me what the child's name was and I was like, "Uh, she's not born yet so she doesn't have a name."  The girl laughed and told me that she couldn't add an infant without a name so I have to call back when she makes her debut and has a name.  So, it is the responsibility of each and every one of you to remind me to call the airline because I have a feeling there will be a lot of other things going on in my brain around that time.

34 Weeks

Rachel: "I feel humongous"
Bryan: "I hate to break it to you, but you kind of are humongous"

Awesome.  6 weeks to go!