Weighing In

I have been thinking a lot lately about weight and healthy weight loss lately. Mostly because I have learned something interesting. In case you weren't aware, pregnancy tends to bring a long period of weight gain followed by a variable period of weight loss. From my experience, I learned something quite interesting: my actual weight does not really affect how I feel (about myself, about life, etc).

"If I could just lose those 5 extra pounds . . . " then what? Honestly, from my experience, it's not the pounds that make a difference (unless we are talking mass weight loss here). I have been lighter than ever before in my life; I have been heavier than ever before in my life. During both periods I have had great days as well as ones where I want to lose just a little bit more.

Clearly, the actual weight isn't what makes the difference. I believe it is something else, something far more simple than just losing the weight - the small, simple things I do each day for my body. I feel so much better when I eat right, don't eat a lot of junk food, and get some form of exercise.

Those simple, yet sometimes difficult everyday things seem to be the difference between an I-feel-great-about-my-body day and an I-wish-I-could-change-my-body day. :)

What do you think?

Our Baby is Adorable!

Munchkin is so darn cute! I am just saying (not that I'm biased or anything!). And such a big boy too; at 2 months he was 12 lbs 7 oz. and 24 3/4 inches long (sorry Germanys). 

And he has learned a new trick:

We have full-on conversations now :)

Oh, and he LOVES games with daddy!

What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

I never thought of this as a temptation, but in recent days I have come to change my thinking a bit. I mean, it is common to man right? Or in this case, woman?

With the lack of sleep and stresses of having a newborn, I seem to have found myself in a bit of a rut.

Does this sound familiar to any of you married ladies out there (if not, ask your spouse if it does): "honey, will you do _____ for me?" "Sure!" . . . a few moments later, complete frustration because said thing is not done as you wanted, when you wanted (i.e. now).

Haha. We women are quite funny I think. Maybe this is a stereotype, but I think most women struggle with this syndrome at some point in life (and I could be wrong there as well); read-my-mind syndrome.

Ever ask your spouse (or someone else for that matter) to do something for you, but then he doesn't get up to do it right then, or doesn't do it exactly the way you imaged it? Who knew that "honey will you please make dinner for me?" really means, "please make me a hot dish of homemade macaroni and cheese with fresh breadsticks and salad on the side as well as Baked Alaska for dessert and fresh squeezed lemonade for a drink; oh, and please make it now." Clearly, your husband didn't get all that from what you said either - hence, with little-to-no direction, he did it his way and in his time table. Frustrated?

Yeah - what we have here is a failure to communicate. Such is a common . . . ok, the only result of read-my-mind syndrome. And yes, I am looking for ideas and suggestions on how to overcome this one.

You see, it's not that I don't want to say exactly what I want so I can be pleased as punch when it is done as I desired. I just seem to have a road block, some construction, and a traffic jam in the way; I just can't get it out. I don't know how it is for you, but for me it's like a battle against inaction in my mind. I know what I want, and I know I won't get it if I don't effectively say it. However, the temptation that leads to destruction of happiness and much frustration, is one to not say anything and see if husband can "guess" what I want and how I want it.

I know Mr. is real good at reading me, but honestly! Mind reading is a fictional "power," it doesn't actually exist. Maybe I read to many fantasy and sci-fi books as a child . . . ?

If I battle over what to get out of my mouth, I eventually find that inaction has already won as I try to fight my way through my thoughts; my mouth seems to be duct taped shut and my tongue stitched down so it cannot be used.

Clearly this is not beneficial at all! Any ideas on how to loose my tongue and get the words out before it's too late?

All About Us

This last month has been one of adjustments, changes, and lots of dirty diapers :)

Through it all, it has been great to get back into date nights again ... Just a few additional preparations are needed. Our first date after Munchkin joined our family was a wonderful dinner at La Jolla Groves and a short walk around the Riverwoods (and playing in Blickenstaff's). Munchkin was lucky to have 3 wonderful babysitters that night (thank you Rs!).

If you're looking for a fun atmosphere with good food (though a bit pricey), we recommend La Jolla :)
(Image from their website)

Such a fun place to go! With all the random candies you could want!
(Image from their website)

For our second date, Mr. planned a hilarious night with Humor U (BYU's stand-up comedy group).

"Not like the girl who comes into class and says, 'I am so fat!' 
while all the other girls immediately validate her and say she is not. 
All the while loathing her inside and screaming, 
'you are a size 0 - that's the absence of EVERYTHING!'"

"Most people use congrats when they are congratulating someone on something. 
I feel like the rest of that word is neglected. 
So from now on I am just going to say, 'Tulations!'"

[With a handicap] "I feel like I get away with a lot. So much so that I feel like Obama."

"People often have a hard time understanding me, so they often just say 'uh-huh.'

Instead of getting mad, I just have some fun with them!

'So, have you kissed a moose?'

'Uh-huuh'"

Munchkin had some wonderful aunts come to watch him this time!

In addition to these fabulous dates planned by the Mr., he has also helped me out a ton! Even with his 2 part-time jobs and a full-time college student, he still comes home and holds. Munchkin, time with me, and helps around the house. Last night I came home from a walk to find he got out of class early and was washing the windows & blinds, dusting, and vacuuming the bedroom (all tasks I have been trying to do for some time)! He is the best!

Baby, Surprise Visit, and a Marathon

Sometimes Munchkin stares off into some empty corner of the room or blank wall space and I can't help but wonder what he sees. He does this less and less lately as he can now focus on near faces and objects, but still I question if he can see angels or the spirits of loved ones who have passed on (like his Grandma V who so graciously left to hand-pick our little boy for us). He is so close to heaven . . . who knows, I could very well be wrong, but at least I can pretend for now and then find out the truth when I die.

Some of his favorite sleeping positions include the following:

And yet, he still manages to look super adorable while sleeping . . .

Ok, and while he's awake too! Mr. and I love guessing what his eye color will be - what do you think?

Bath time is always super fun too - though Munchkin repeatedly tells me that it is too cold to take baths now!

J & G came over for a visit and we both thoroughly enjoyed it!

3 months and 2 weeks (respectively)

Munchkin also has this super adorable squeak he does - we had to catch it on camera before he stops doing it!

* * * * *

On another note, we had a surprise visit from a good friend in Arkansas. He also came bearing gifts . . .

Cute hooded towels for bath time! Baby couldn't be more excited :)

Local paraphernalia from Grandma Diane :)

* * * * *

So through all this adventure baby and I have at home (cuddle time, nap time, etc), Mr.'s running a marathon it seems. No, not the 26.3-mile one you do in a weekend morning (I wish it were that quick), but a semester-long academic and work marathon of sorts. His 1 1/2 part-time jobs as well as full-time student coursework keep him incredibly busy. However, he does a really great job at managing his time and making sure to make the time to come home to be with his family. We sure do love him lots and are grateful for all his hard work!

A magnificent husband and a wonderful father :)

Thanks for checking in on us! Happy Monday!

Our Little Man :)

We officially have a new addition to the family - and we couldn't be more ecstatic! . . . can't you see his enthusiasm? :)

This handsome boy was born the evening of October 1 (5 days before his official "due date"). He was definitely excited to come into the world and was even ready before my body was. With no contractions I noticed, but previously dilated to 2 cm and 75% effaced, I found myself running to the bathroom every 25-40 minutes. I thought he must keep head-butting my bladder since I had to go to the bathroom so frequently.

By 9:00 am though, I knew something had to be up - no woman, pregnant or not, should have to go to the bathroom over 8 times within a 3 1/2 hour period (way to go Kegels though)! So, I sent Mr. off to class and then called the doctor to set up a quick appointment to see if my water was leaking. The appointment was for 10:20 am, and Mr.'s class wasn't supposed to end until after that point - so originally I was going to let him to go class, then take a test, and I would go to the appointment and let him know what the doctor said. However, as I got to thinking about it, I didn't want to go alone because I had no idea what they would do at the doctor's office (i.e. if my water was leaking, but no contractions were coming, would they strip my membranes?) - no way did I trust myself to drive if that should happen! 

So I called Mr. home and then left shortly after for the doctor's office. Once we got in, we found some unexpected news - my membranes had completely ruptured (my water broke) - we had to assume it occurred around 5:30 am when the bathroom marathon began. - Still, no contractions. We calmly drove home, sent an email to Mr.'s professors, grabbed our hospital bag, and went to Labor and Delivery. A very odd, calm-like manner (not at all like the movies or like what we expected). 

Admitted around 11:30 am - still no contractions I could feel, yet somehow dilated to a 3 and about 90% effaced. So abnormal! The nurses decided to induce me since baby had to be out within 24-hours of the water breaking and my body didn't seem to be going fast enough. Man, if I can help it, never again! The contractions came so irregularly with exponentially growing intensity. I could handle it at first (yoga ball = my best friend), but as they came harder and harder with little to no breaks between them, I had a very difficult time breathing and relaxing enough to let my body progress. I had been hoping to do an all-natural birth, but with the seemingly endless pain, I knew my body was tensing and fighting what needed to happen (it had been a few hours and I had only dilated to 5 cm) . . . so I called for an epidural. 

Such a weird feeling honestly - my left leg felt as fat as an elephant! We still had slow progress, however - by sometime around 4 or 5 pm, I was still only to 5.5 cm. New methods were necessary for progress - so I practiced my visualization and breathing techniques to imagine that area relaxing and enlarging. Within about an hour I was all the way dilated to a 10! 

Finally, after waiting for the doctor for an hour, and then pushing for 2 1/2 hours (on a VERY hungry stomach), Munchkin graced us with his presence!

8 lbs. 9 oz. - 19 1/2 inches long (sorry Caleen - no head circumference)

Our adorable little blessing coming home :)

No idea how that is comfortable - but he seems to love it :)

We are a happy family! :)

The Necessities

. . . of pregnancy. Ok, maybe not for everyone, but I did find these things extremely useful to help ease the discomforts of pregnancy:

1. A body pillow. This has been particularly helpful during the 3rd trimester when sleeping is just uncomfortable.

2. Tums. I carry them in my purse now because you never know when the acid will hit you.

3. Good running/walking shoes. I've had a pair of Mizuno shoes from Fleet Feet for about 4 or 5 years now and they have served me very well. They were my best friends during all trimesters since my feet would easily swell and the muscles on the bottom of my feet would cramp up. Only these shoes would give my feet some relief and comfort.

4. A daily walk. Due to some foot complications in the 1st trimester, I was unable to exercise like I wanted to early on in my pregnancy. Honestly though, a good walk a day has helped so much with pregnancy discomforts. In the 1st trimester, it helped ease "morning sickness," in the 2nd trimester it kept me active and healthy, and now in the 3rd trimester, it helps my muscles stay loose and keeps me more comfortable.

As far as an update goes, baby is getting bigger and bigger. My stomach measures about 37 cm (Fundal Height - from pubic bone to top of the uterus). Dialated to 2 cm and about 75% effaced.

Really, that doesn't mean anything. I could go into labor in 1-2 days . . . or it could still be 2 weeks away - no one knows! We're waiting for our handsome little boy though! Jess says he's not allowed to come (or I'm not allowed to go into labor) before 10:00 am tomorrow (Friday) - baby might respect her wishes :)

Marshmellows

Cheap, and super fun - what to do with marshmellows on a date :)

1. Purchase marshmellows (large) and toothpicks
2. Build towers and see which model stands the longest :)
3. Eat the extras . . . yum

This One's for Brittany

When we were in Arkansas, we were able to stop and see the USS Razorback in all its pride and glory. It really was a pretty cool thing to walk through an old submarine - with all the tight space, crazy living conditions, and lack of air circulation (we've heard from a friend that conditions are much improved in modern submarines).

Note: I apologize for the blurry photos in advance, they were taken from cell phones.

Left: Torpedos (4) in the back end of the sub
Center: the Razorback's tower/tail
Top Right: more torpedo cases
Bottom Right: Picture of a crew member's bed - right on top of an extra torpedo

This sub was constructed in Maine and launched January of 1944. She conducted 5 combat patrols during WWII and was one of only 12 subs present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender was signed. Following WWII, the Razorback was active during the Cold War, conducting surveillance patrols around Russian ports.

Crew bunks - 3 high on each side of a very small hallway

She was decommissioned in August 1952 for conversion and modification under the "Guppy" Program. After re-commissioning in January of 1954, the Razorback returned to Cold War duties.

Left: Mess/Dining Hall sink/dishes/storage area
Center: Grate covering the lower level food storage/pantry
Top Right: Mess Hall (fed up to 60 people at a time)
Bottom Right: Kitchen - bet it got flaming hot in there!

The Razorback was decommissioned again in November 1970 and transfered to the Turkish Navy.

Top Left: Captain's quarters
Bottom Left: Officer's dining hall (it had gold lined dishes - oooh)
Right: Tiny hallway outside the Officer's dining hall and quarters

She made her way to Little Rock, AR in 2004 and has since been an exhibit at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.

Controls and Control Room

For more history and information, visit: http://www.aimm.museum/razorback.asp

Left: Shower (crew was only allowed one every 2 weeks if they were lucky)
Top Right: Most handsome and wonderful husband in front of one of the ports
Bottom Right: Exit hatch :)

Apparently turtles LOVE old submarines! There were at least 50 swimming around in the water between the shore and the sub.

Leaving the LR, AR

Wow, so crazy how quickly time flies! We've been home for 2 weeks now and it's crazy to think back and remember all the times in AR. Saying goodbye to the people was the hardest - all the friends we will miss . . . we will see them again . . . sometime.

Oh, we did get a chance to go to Mississippi for a quick trip before we left that side of the country! Got to see a whole bunch of family - including the newest edition, baby Thomas. - Wish I had pictures folks, he's so adorable, but somehow my camera managed to be lost at the time of all the picture taking.

We did get to stop at Waverly Mansion, couldn't take pictures inside, but it was very well restored (except the outside).

Older than most, if not all homes on the West

After one more week in AR, we said goodbye and made the 1600-mile trip back.

Bye-bye!

Funny story with the Tide pen . . . It was a long ride home . . . and I was bored . . . and I am super clumsy now that I am pregnant . . . :) It was a random, simple stain on my shirt I hadn't noticed before and we just bought a 3 pack of the Tide to-go pens . . . In the end, my shirt and skirt were completely covered in the bleach EXCEPT for the one spot I wanted to bleach in the first place. Tide pen = empty. Haha at least we know this type of chemical is safe on colors! Wahoo!

Pit stop at the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma temple. We got to go in and it was beautiful! Kinda reminded me of the Monticello, UT temple :) 

We also got to stop at the Denver, CO temple! This one reminded me of the Jordan River UT Temple - sorta - mostly because of the grounds. Man I have missed clear, blue water like that though!

A huge thanks to the Coloradudes for their hospitality at this last stop! It was so fun to be with family (and to watch Matt play with the children :) :) :) ).

Such a fun adventure! We're looking forward to this next one :)

Mountain Please

We've greatly missed the mountains since we've been in Arkansas, but we did find one within a 50 mile range that fit the technical qualification - so naturally, Matt asked me on a date to go hike it! :)

At 1,011 ft. hight, Pinnacle Mountain was the best option we could find. And it turned out to be better than we originally thought. It climbs about 700 ft. in 3/4 mile (very steep) and is filled with boulders and uneven terrain. We climbed the East side (the "easy" side) fairly quickly, and rested on the top for a good snack.

Someone put a little flag in the tree - we loved it!

 Then it started raining - and when it rains, it is more like a downpour.

Naturally, we decided to try the West side (the "hard" side) on our way down. This part took us by far the longest. With my adjusting balance, a steep rocky decline, and rain making the decent extra slippery, we carefully took our time in finding a good way down.

Please excuse the blurriness - it was pouring.

We made it down safe and sound and then had a lovely walk around the base of the mountain to get back to the car. LOVED it! We were pretty wet when we finished, but were famished. So - we found a Waffle House and had second breakfast (the waffles there are tasty! - the rest . . . well, it's not IHOP).

My husband plans such great dates! :)

Independence Day

Let Freedom Ring! :) - sorry, playing catch-up a bit here :)

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the US

What a wonderful Independence Day it was :) Matt had the day off, and though I got called in for a few hours at work, we were able to spend the morning and evening together. 


To start off, our ward and another ward met together for a lovely pancake breakfast - preceded by a flag ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance (man have I missed reciting that!). After the flag was in proper place and tummies were filled, we all got to play around in the grass with a variety of sports balls and discs. Once it got too hot, we headed out.

After work, we headed down to the river for some festivities, patriotic music, and the fireworks of course!

The moon in the bottom R picture was as red as my shirt! We've never seen it that red before!