Welcome to Marylund

"Now class, repeat after me..."

2012-01-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

The Wonderful Twos

2012-01-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I was rocking Millie before she went to sleep, I told her a story about a mommy who was given a beautiful baby girl as a treasure, two years ago tomorrow. I told her a few of the countless reasons that I love that little girl, and then I started crying. Then I put her in bed and she started crying. Heredity shows up at the weirdest moments.

I sure am lucky to have been given two of the most wonderful girls. Here are a few reasons to love Millie, especially on her second birthday!

*She is quick-witted and funny
*She's constantly learning new words and skills
*Still hasn't mastered jumping, but works on it daily
*She loves her little sister and is very attentive to her needs--including sharing her food with the baby
*Loves dancing and is gaining some mad skills
*Has the best smile
*Has picked up singing
*She's learning how effective a kind tone and a few choice words ("please, mommy") can be
*LOVES sweets (and heredity makes another appearance)
*She loves being rocked
*Often gets laughing hard enough that her legs give out and she ends up on the floor
*Has the cutest dimple
*She almost always looks like a little homeless child with the cutest ragamuffin hair you've ever seen
*She loves helping with most anything, but her favorites are cooking and sweeping
*Loves to pray, read about Jesus or sing songs about him

Oh, how I love this girl.

Happy Birthday, Millie!

I made this for my running blog, but it's so cute...I just had to share

2012-01-11T19:26:00.000-08:00

2011

2012-01-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a year. Here's what happened:

Remember this girl?

Made lasting friendships

There really are no words

Learned how to read

Barney graduated from the ~~NBA~~ MBA program

And got a job at a a little company called Mozenda

Keeping the ducks fat

~~Child labor~~ Helping mom

Being cute

Meeting baby Alice for the first time/feeding Baby Alice cookies for the first time

Halloween: the princess and the pea

Daddy recovering from 3 surgeries and taking care of two hooligans at the same time=superman

Thanksgiving (yes, we only ate pie for Thanksgiving)

Alice Joy on her blessing day

Nice action shot

"Give me more cookies!!"

The first snow

Hanging out

Meeting Santa
Notice Millie's look of horror. It was only slightly less traumatic because he gave her a candy cane.

Thanks for the great year everyone.

Love you.

Amazing how much excitement a few white flakes can produce

2011-12-13T08:24:00.001-08:00

Some pictures so I can feel better about my blog

2011-12-11T18:33:00.001-08:00

Today, I am thankful for the miracles

2011-11-22T07:31:00.001-08:00

In the past month, I've felt keenly aware of many of the blessings I often take for granted.

1. Sight. I've had eye problems for over a month now: what I thought was an eye infection, broken glasses (twice), an eye appointment, a broken contact, another eye appointment, the wrong contacts, new glasses ordered, then finally after the new contact came, another one had to be ordered. Wow. I can honestly say that I've never been so grateful to be able to see. I was young enough when I first got glasses and contacts that I don't think I've quite appreciated what a great blessing it is.

2. The ability to walk. About a week ago, my hip suddenly started acting funny. It has been hurting with every step. This morning I woke up, and it felt fine. What a blessing.

3. Sleep. Most of you know what your sleep schedule is like with a new baby. Well, they wake up even more when you work a cold into the picture. For two nights now, Alice has slept at least 8.5 hours straight. Though I wake up wondering if everything is okay, I am so grateful to sleep well. I feel like I'm a much better mom when I am well rested.

The Big Reveal

2011-11-13T21:44:00.001-08:00

Here are the long awaited pictures of Halloween. As you can see, we didn't get many pictures, nor did we get great quality ones. I had a pillow strapped to me (to be a mattress), and Barney was wearing a blanket on his shoulder as he forgot his pillow.

Note: The tape on Barney's knee is because he had surgery on it.

For those who struggle being healthy while being a mom...

2011-11-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

I think about this a lot. So, I'm starting a new blog on the subject. I'm including my workout experiences along with healthy variations on recipes that I make. For those who are interested:

runningmom-mary.blogspot.com

Enjoy.

Halloween and Picture Dump...Okay, mostly just pictures

2011-11-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

For Halloween this year some of our friends came over to join us for a dinner of ribs (thanks for the ideas Jen!),

Green slime and pumpkin guts,

Cake

Mashed potato ghosts and breadstick bones with blood (not pictured)

We dressed the girls up as the princess and the pea, with us as mattresses and took them trick-or-treating to a few people. Millie was so high on sugar that we may never do it again. I'll post some pictures of the costumes when I get them.

On an unrelated note, my super talented friend/sister-in-law Jen took some pictures of the girls. Considering the disastrous timing of Alice's baby acne plus neither of the girls cooperating, I'd say she did an amazing job. I guess someday we'll enjoy the true nature of our lives being shown in the pictures.

And here are a few more cute moments we've captured lately...

Nice spit up stain, Alice!

... including this creepy scene we saw when Millie got up from her nap. Should we be worried?

Little mommy in training

2011-09-30T04:38:00.001-07:00

Millie has been such a... helpful big sister since Alice was born. She is awesome at throwing away diapers and helping to clean up toys, and even better at helping me cook. That is, as long as I don't interfere.

I think she's also figured out all my secrets. Here's how she perceives motherhood:

Wearing a purse and carrying around a baby,

Along with going on lots of walks.

Alice is so lucky to have her as a big sister. Here's how she feels about it:

The many faces of little Alice

2011-09-26T14:09:00.001-07:00

It seems that we already have an entertainer on our hands. Every time I pull out the camera to capture a cute expression, I get one like this...

Slow motion moments involving vomit

2011-09-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

Alice was very quietly lying on the couch this morning. She was too quiet. It first struck me as odd, as she's generally sleeping or crying and only takes breaks to eat. Not wanting to miss the moment, I sat down and put her on my lap, looking up at me.

Was that a smile? No, it's too early. But, it sure looked like she was smiling...

Cue intense music and lighting

Her mouth formed a perfect "O" as a fountain a vomit streamed upward out of Alice's mouth, covering my face, clothes (soaked me to the skin), her clothes, the couch and the carpet. I have never witnessed such a forceful display from one of my children, nor such a foul tasting one.

My biggest regret is that I didn't catch it on film. Moments like that rarely happen twice in the same way.

We have kids!

2011-09-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Meet
Alice Joy Lund

Joy comes from her great-grandmother's name Joyce

The Lund girls are very happy to outnumber the boys.

Although I'm sure the boy doesn't mind.

And for those who care to know the details...

I was 3 days overdue with baby Alice, and had been feeling plenty of action for days, though nothing worth timing. Just as soon as I had dropped B off for work at 8:30 am on Wednesday (Sept. 7), the contractions started. I dropped Millie off at my parents' house, went home to shower and get some things together, and went back to get B from work at about 10. By 11, I was in the hospital bed, checked in, and dilated to a 5. They broke my water at around 12, gave me an epidural at 12:45 and I was ready to push at 3:15. Alice was born at 3:29 with no complications, plenty of hair, and a nice loud cry.

We are so happy to have her as part of our family, and Millie is more than willing to share her crackers, milk, and popsicles with her. She's already an awesome older sister. We are so lucky to have these two amazing girls in our family.

This is NOT the post you're waiting for! Repeat: no new baby yet!

2011-09-01T11:03:00.001-07:00

Oh I love this girl. She is growing up so fast...and just in time too!

We (meaning my wallet and I) can all breath a sigh of relief, as September is officially here! Due to a company insurance change (effective Sept. 1), we will officially pay a lot less for this new baby. Lets just say that I put myself on bedrest for the past few days. Now that it's September though...anyone up for a run?

We spoke in church on Sunday. I had been slightly anxious at the thought of speaking the assigned 17-20 minutes without either putting the congregation to sleep or going into labor. I'm not sure that I fully succeeded in the first, but let's just say that when I get going, I can talk the way a pioneer child can walk. Poor Mr. Lund's time was cut a bit shorter than everyone would have liked. He's an amazing teacher.

I know what you're thinking...twice in one week! It's a miracle!

2011-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been neglecting my blog. There's no good excuse. However, I'm sure in the upcoming weeks we'll have some exciting news to share. In the mean time...

We met B's family for the Davis County Fair. Not the most conventional fair I've been to, but definitely one of the coolest (well, it was actually sweltering hot. Especially with this little heater in me). What fair have you been to that lets you pet and play with zebras, goats, dromedaries, and all kinds of miniature horses and cows, not to mention a tortoise?

These animals had NO sense of personal space. I was sure we were going to come away with a huge chunk of Millie's hair missing from those goats.

Less than two weeks left...but who's counting?

2011-08-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what to write about, but here are some cute pictures as of late:

My first attempt at making salt dough, and Millie's first taste of it.

"Farmer tan on my neck and arms. Farmer tan--secret of my charms..." p.s. Nice censoring job, Millie!

Her new "look"

Meeting our new nephew, baby William. Such a handsome guy. Oh, and the baby is super cute too!

No, I still don't have any good pictures of myself to put on here. Sorry about the lack of unflattering belly shots. I know you're all dying to see how large and awkward I'm getting.

Oh what do you do in the summetime, when all the world is green?

2011-07-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

Well, obviously, I don't blog much.

But, we have been...

Enjoying fresh produce,

Real Salt Lake soccer game

Going to the zoo,

Doing lots of playing in the sunshine,

Baking cakes for special occasions,

Family picnics,

Parades,

Balloons,

And just plain being silly.

Events not pictured:

-Me, growing to approximately the size of a whale. The good news is, my placenta has shifted so it shouldn't be a problem. And yes, I've started running again. . . . That is if you can call it running. It's more like a slow waddle. 8 weeks left!

-B's Birthday, and his first white hair. Yes, he made me pull it out. Yes, he saved it.

-Prepping M to become a big sister. All we've achieved is a little girl who wants her mama to hold her all the time. Any suggestions?

-Prepping the house for a move in 3 weeks. All we've achieved is creating more mess. I'm sensing a pattern here...

Capturing the Moments: A Better Looking Version

2011-06-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

Now that we are happily living in the land of a steady paycheck, insurance, and free evenings, we decided to spend all our money on a camera.

*Note to all real photographers: Don't fret! I don't think that buying a new camera makes me a photographer. I am the first to admit that I know very little about the matter, and I will not be trying to make money taking pictures. Just so we're clear, and I don't offend anyone who has real skills and qualifications.

Little M is growing up so fast, and is just so cute that it was a shame to capture her life through a camera phone. And, we're hoping that her little sister gets here before we're sick of taking pictures forever.

Here's a little preview of a few of our favorites. I don't know much about editing (Mr. Lund is much better at that than I), so these are mostly just the raw photos.

24 weeks along, and learning how to walk

2011-05-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Millie and I are both figuring out how to walk this week.

Millie, who took her first steps about 4 months ago, is just now figuring out that she likes to walk instead of crawl. I can't blame her; she is so efficient and fast in her crawling, and can get to everything she wants to. So, despite her physical ability to walk, she has chosen crawling for a long time, and now is finally deciding that she wants to move on to walking.

I, on the other hand, have been running almost every day of my pregnancy thus far. These 24 weeks have seemed much more manageable, because I've been able to stay active. Running is something that I love, something that gives me confidence, keeps me balanced and happy, and gives me another thing to do with Millie throughout the day. It is so much a part of my identity, and I was really hoping to be able to continue throughout the pregnancy (at least as long as it was still comfortable).

Then, yesterday at my doctor appointment, we discussed my placenta previa, and the doctor advised that I stop running and err on the side of inactivity. At first, (don't make fun of me--pregnancy hormones) I almost cried. I hate to give that part of my life up (I know, I know, it's only for a few months, I don't expect you to understand) when so often it's the only part of my day that feels productive, and one of the few things that I do for me.

And, while the placenta previa is a risk to my body but not necessarily the baby's, it is even easier to rationalize the doctor's orders. However, I'm having to remember that my health is important to this baby and to Millie. As with most things, this is not all about me and my wants.

So, the girls in our family have moved on to walking. Wish us luck!

"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters..."

2011-04-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

That's right folks,

we went to the doctor to get some pictures of our now banana-sized child, and found out that it's a

GIRL!!!!!

And, I guessed wrong again. Somehow, Mr. Lund has better intuition about these things. Must be his fatherly-ness.

Anyway, we couldn't be more thrilled to see the healthy little kicker in there.

Now, for the name game.

Okay, okay. Enough about me.

2011-04-09T09:46:00.001-07:00

Here's the cute one.

Enough said.

And on the Seventh Day, it Rose from the Dead!!!

2011-04-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

That's right, folks. The phone is alive. I honestly can't believe it. I have very little faith, I guess, when it comes to these things. But, thanks to all who gave advice. Apparently rice works.

Some people on-line have said that their phones were resurrected after a week in the rice, but then they died for good a month later. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but until then, I am definitely grateful.

A Few Conference Successes

2011-04-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we enjoyed General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It seems that I always have goals to be super prepared for conference--not only spiritually, but physically as well. I ALMOST met my goal this year.

We had family and friends from out of town staying with us. This meant I had to be extra prepared. I cleaned the house really well on Thursday and Friday and had all the meals planned. I did easy/crock pot/freezer meals to serve people. I am so glad that I planned ahead, as I was able to focus and not stress about things that don't matter that much (but I always seem to worry about, of course). And in the process, I found a really yummy new chicken recipe (for tacos/taco salad) as well as a new pumpkin bread recipe that I altered and love (yes, I realize it's not pumpkin bread season. Blame it on baby #2). Double success!

The only possible crisis of the weekend (besides the child with a fever and accidentally dozing off for a minute. Did Elder Holland really speak this afternoon? Blast! Blame it on baby #2 again.), was when 10 people came over for dinner instead of the 4 that I had planned for. Well, again, I was blessed as there was enough, plus one bite left over. It wasn't feeding five thousand, but I had only cooked two chicken breasts. I was pretty impressed by my conference miracle.

And, to update those who've been wondering:

My phone has still not been resurrected, but I'm going to give it a week in the rice. I'll let you know.

And yes, I'm feeling much better this pregnancy. The first 15 weeks or so were just as bad as the last pregnancy, but it's started to ease up (HUGE BLESSING), and I am almost ready to party like it's 1999 again.

Oops!

2011-03-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

I dropped my iPhone 4 in the washing machine today.

I'm seriously hoping as well as doubting its survival.

I may be overly skeptical, but the same fate met my very first iPod, and there was no rescuing that puppy.

Apparently, Apple doesn't create washer-proof products.

Too bad.

Millie's Big Announcement

2011-03-11T20:58:00.001-08:00

Our baby girl is growing up

and expecting a new baby brother or sister,

due Sept. 4.

Just thought you should know.

What She's Been Up To

2011-02-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

Now, I realize that it's not fair that I'm posting a non-perfect view of my child on here. Especially since I'm sure I never went through any of those non-perfect stages myself. Still, I hate it when anyone misses out on these fun and crazy moments. So for your enjoyment, here are some of M's achievements of her second year so far:

Oh, she looks so innocent.

Yes, that's the contents of the shredder.

No caption necessary. Oops.

Always the helper. She's so nice to clean out the box of wipes for me. . .

...and to empty the roll.

So glad she appreciates my cooking.

Oh good. Here she is "helping" Daddy vacuum. I'm glad I captured her NOT creating a mess for once.

And, for no reason, I just wanted to add this because I like it. Man, I love that little munchkin.

Pretend like I posted this yesterday

2011-02-15T10:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Daddy,

With all due respect to mommy, I want to be your Valentine! Please, oh please!

Love,
Millie

Realizations

2011-02-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a day with a sick baby, to make the rest of my life look a lot more productive.

And thus she becomes a one-year-old

2011-01-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Millie,

What a big year.

So many accomplishments--from learning to breathe to communicating and taking some steps.

I am so proud to have you as a daughter, and eternally grateful that you chose to be part of our family.

I love you, baby girl.

Love, Mom

They grow up so fast!

2011-01-10T21:57:00.001-08:00

Millie took her first steps today.

Next thing I know, she'll be off to college.

Meet the Family

2011-01-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

These pictures have nothing to do with this post, I just liked them. (Nice work censoring your own photo, Millie!)

Over the past few weeks, we've had all of my siblings with all of their children in town. It was a blast, let me tell ya. Still, it's always kind of a funky experience spending a lot of time with siblings, as an adult.

Anyone agree?

No matter what I've done with my life or who I've become since I left my parents' home, everyone seems to fall back into their birth order when we're together.

Here they are:

"Oldest Brother": Gourmet chef who never went to culinary school; Computer genius; Great father; Dr. Who enthusiast; and don't you dare use cream of anything soup around him. It gives him the willies.

"The Doctor": Despite his many other interests and talents, his degree has become his face. Whenever this brother is in town, any ache or pain that you've ever had will somehow come to rest upon his ears, with pleas for advice. Oh yeah, and we went running together one day. He's really fast.

"Kids' Favorite": Always the entertainer, the kids especially love him; Good White-Elephant present giver; Loves reliving his childhood (Duck tales. Need I say more?); Teaches Psychology at BYU; Gluten free cooking.

"Little Sister": Loves to sew; In the middle of a bunch of projects; Just got engaged; Wants to be individual and unique;

"Like a Nephew": I didn't actually see this brother much over the break. He was usually with the kids. You can't blame him, he is 10 years old.

Thinking that not everyone enjoys the family stereotype, I tried to break out of our mold a bit. I made dinner and used Cream of Mushroom Soup, didn't even mention a body part in "The Doctor's" presence, played games as adults, and...well, my sister was out of town and, like I said, I didn't see the youngest much. I really enjoyed getting to know my siblings better as individuals, and not just as my siblings.

Of Course, maybe the stereotype is more accurate...

A New Year in the Twilight Zone

2011-01-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone. Sorry to be MIA, I'll explain in another post.

I have been living in the Twilight Zone.

NOT kidding.

For two Sundays in a row now, I have woken the baby up from her nap, run around like a banshee trying to get us ready for church, snarfed cereal as we're running out the door, and arrived at the church only to realize that we were early. At least today we were only 40 minutes early. Last week it was over 2 hours.

The Twilight Zone seems different than I pictured it. I still feel like I can trust my judgment, but it turns out that I need to just give up and hire a private secretary, so that I can figure out this life of mine.

Oh Tannenbaum...

2010-12-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

As has become tradition, I present our Christmas tree:

I came into the room the other day to find Millie's addition to the tree decorating.

In other news, Millie has spoken her first word. Banana. I have yet to catch it on film, but I do have 5 witnesses, so that's g0ing to have to do for now.

And, here is the little munchkin, in all her glory.

My Thanksgiving Post

2010-11-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today, I am thankful. Here are some of my favorite blessings.

Tamales. I had the best tamales yesterday. Seriously. Is there anything better?
Hands. I would sure miss them!
Agency
Nice people. Sounds cliche, I know. But it sure is nice when people are nice to you.
Kisses from Millie. Nothing like a big slobbery open-mouthed kiss to raise your spirits!
Stroller (jogging stroller, that is). Of all the things I own, this is in the top five most-used. It's right behind the next thing in my list.
Gravity. I do not own gravity, I just use it quite often.

Internet. I know, I know. I'm a nerdy addict. But if you're reading this, you may be too!
Vanilla yogurt
Indexing (Family Search Extraction Work). Another addiction that I have. Wow. This post is turning out to be more of a confession...
Nursery. Thanks to this calling, Millie has been building up her immune system like crazy!
Garage. It is so nice not to scrape off the car!!!

But mostly, I'm grateful for these two crazy kooks.

I have finally given in

2010-11-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

I realize that I'm at the tail-end of the trend, but I still had to join the ranks of women with bangs. And not just the side swoop that I've had. These are serious.

I haven't had bangs like this since I was 3.

Are you excited yet?

Okay. Here is the before:

And, the after... or rather, the attempts at getting a good shot of the after. When you're as photogenic as I am, it's so hard to choose just one picture for the blog.

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

The slightly stoned look

The James Bond girl look

The Classic Smile. Don't you love how frizzy my hair looks here?

The Long Debated Over and Waited For Halloween Costume Outcome

2010-11-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Three Blind Mice

Bernard

2010-11-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

See this dog? I named it Bernard. Millie liked it.

Millie and I picked it up (or rather, it invited itself) on our run the other morning. I tried my best to get rid of it, to no avail. It just kept on running with us, and occasionally into us. So annoying. Especially when it slimed my pants.

Except, I started feeling a little responsible for Bernard. Like the time when I yelled at it to keep it off the front bumper of a car, and the time I thought for 3 milliseconds about cleaning up it's poop on some random person's lawn.

The worst part was that people kept giving me dirty looks for having a dog on the loose. I just kept yelling, "Not my dog!" to everyone I saw.

And then, there were three.

Seriously.

We picked up 2 more little dogs following along behind.

And then, we had a regular parade when two more decided to join. I wish I had thought to pull out my camera phone at that point. Instead I just pretended I didn't hear the traffic jam or all the cars honking at our dog parade.

We finally lost Bernard when we ran into my parent's house and locked the door. I almost felt bad for running away like that. Almost.

What I want to know, is how much I'm going to get paid for taking all those dogs for a run.

A Couple of Cool Caucasians enjoying Colds, Creations, and Carousels

2010-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

You may recognize these cool caucasians.

This is a story about them.

This one, in particular, was thinking one day, and decided that she wanted some attention from the other two.

So, she got sick.

And I mean sick. (I usually only post the cutest pictures of the babe, but I was hoping to inspire some sympathy)

Of course she couldn't wait for the other two cool caucasians to get well first. That would be a little too easy.

So, the first one (in keeping with her creation kick) started making sweets. 'Cause who doesn't like a good spoonful of sugar (or two) to get the medicine down?

When that didn't work, they took her to a fun place full of germy rides.

Well, the good news is, she is feeling somewhat better. It must have been all that counting with Cookie Monster that did the trick. I'll remember that next time and try it first.

Big Heads and Sharp Teeth

2010-10-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Millie has been going crazy on the development train lately. Not only has she started crawling

and pulling herself up to standing,

Is it just me, or is does her head look proportionally large in this shot?

but she's also popped her first....and second...and third...and fourth teeth in less than 3 weeks. I don't know how she does it. I would need some serious pain killers for that kind of experience.

Yes, this is the pew in front of us at church.

Oh. And she's decided that since she can stand up in her crib now, she doesn't need to sleep when I put her in it. HELP!!!

Huggie my Not a Snuggie

2010-10-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Mr. Lund said that he had a surprise from Woot! coming for us in the mail. We couldn't wait. So, when it got here yesterday,

And we saw

We were excited. What more could you want than two oversized "Not a Snuggies". Here's what Woot! says about them:

Where The Sleeved Blankets Have No Name

Look, you know what these things are. We know what these things are. But we can’t call ‘em that – and neither can you. While you’re enjoying the unparalleled fleece comfort and unselfconscious convenience of America’s favorite neo-garment, you may refer to it using one of the following Woot-approved noms de sloth:

Wrapathy
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Just a Blanket With Arm Holes
the Surrender Gown
Cloak of the Dyslexic Wizard
Fleece Birth Control
Depression Binky
CuddleShroud
the Infantilikilt
+3 Shawl of Telecommuting
OK, You Got Us, It Actually Is Just A Blanket With Arm Holes

Why? Well, that’s a very complicated question which cannot be examined without a comprehensive acknowledgement of the various entities (legal, financial, and extra-terrestrial) affected by the provisions of any contractual agreement between the contending parties. Or maybe we acquired these through less-than-official channels and don’t need your big mouth broadcasting it all over town, OK?

We’ve implanted listening devices in every single one of these to make sure none of you violate this term. Or maybe it’s a condition. Either way, watch it. But hey, you can call the book lights whatever you want.

So, if you see us sporting these beauties, don't be confused. They are NOT Snuggies. They are actually "Not a Snuggies"

Learning and Creating

2010-10-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

I've made a new goal to learn and create something every day. The rules (rules for a goal?) are fairly loose. In other words, yes, making dinner can count as creating something.

Here are a few of the things I've been working on:

A wall hanging for Millie's room

Reversible shoes: I didn't make two right feet, just wanted to show both sides of the shoe.

Hair clips

The model is my friend Janae's cute baby. My sister Dianey made the skirt.

Onesies

This shot is to show the ruffles

I've also experimented with some horrible looking but delicious tasting kiwi-lime-grapefruit cupcakes, and homemade ice cream.

What to be, or what not to be: that is the question...plus a bit of what we're up to these days

2010-09-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Millie has been dressing up lately, trying to decide what to be for Halloween. And yes, dressing as Justing Bieber is still an option. Any votes?

My sister Dianey made this cute pleated cowgirl skirt for Millie, and I made the onesie to match.

Also, we've been hanging out with cousins.

Millie with cousin Tyler

Suzana with Molly (middle) and Elise with Penny (right)

Millie is such a ham.

And, here's another cute shot for good measure.

MIA

2010-09-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

(That's Missing In Action, not Mutual Improvement Association)

I realize I haven't blogged in a while. Why? Well, I've been reading a couple of "can't put down" books.

First, I read the fifth "Fablehaven" book. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I've read them all. I'll blame that on my brother John E. While I wasn't impressed at all by the first couple (the writing style especially), surprisingly I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The worst part was the last chapter where Brandon Mull desperately tried to add a bit of romance. Don't get me wrong, I love romance. But if it's awkward enough that you feel embarrassed for them, don't add it. All in all, it was a great book. Nothing like a good world saving every once in a while to brighten your spirits.

And yesterday, I finished "The Help". Despite the occasional cuss word, I loved reading this book. It truly was an experience. It feels like it's been a while since I've read something that was really well written. (This post is making me look like a literature snob. Not so!...too much.) I loved the voice, the story line, and the subject matter. Great book.

And to move on from the book review...

Some other things we've been up to:

Being cute

Deciding on a possible future career as a hair stylist,

And laughing. A lot.

Want Some Good Dirty Entertainment?

2010-09-13T08:27:00.001-07:00

Instructions:

1. Make sure your baby doesn't relieve herself for about 3 days. This is very important.

2. Feed the baby a lot of baby food prunes.

3. Leave the baby with grandpa for a few hours.

Result:

Notice that he used the outfit she was wearing as a wash cloth.

New Beginnings

2010-09-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

What Millie likes about our new place:

Swings

Trampoline

Plenty of space to play

And playing the piano with daddy.

What mommy likes about our new place:

Sound doesn't travel well, so I can not only ignore a crying baby, but I can use the excuse with my husband that I "didn't hear" him.

I'm back!

2010-08-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we're settling in to our new place back in Utah. If there's one (or two...or three) thing(s) I've learned from this move, it's:

*I'm addicted to having Internet. I basically had a hernia before they set it up yesterday. (If I've been absent on your blogs, that's my excuse.)

*I'm way too good at acquiring free and useless things. We have two storage rooms full of stuff that we left for the summer, and now that I'm having to go through it all, I think I'll just burn it instead.

*I love free babysitting.

*More house space=more work. Lesson learned. After this year, I think I could be okay with one bedroom apartments for the rest of my life.

*Fruit trees are wonderful, and yet, so much work. Why is it that I already have had several days up to my eyebrows in apricots, and haven't even made a dent in the tree?

Okay, that was five.

See you soon!

A Knuckle Story: not to be read by the faint hearted

2010-08-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

When I was young, (until I was 18) I didn't have any knuckles. Just dimples where knuckles should be.

My mom said that I could call myself an adult when I got some.

So, I wished and wished for those knuckles, so I could join the world of adulthood.

Now, I'm wishing and wishing for the days of dimples to come back.

My knuckles have been nothing but trouble.

First, I got some little bumps on my knuckle, that I wasn't sure about, so I went to the doctor. They were warts! G.R.O.S.S.!!! I had never had them before, and I didn't like them. So, he pulled out the liquid nitrogen.

Then came the enormous blister, then the pus, then the volcano, then the hand infection.

I'm guessing the outcome will either be amputation, or a scar on my knuckle. The question is, which looks worse? The scar or the original bumps?

This picture (which has been edited of course. Don't want to gross anyone out. See the streaking down my arm?), definitely doesn't do my owie justice.

Do you think this will ruin my career as a hand model?

Lessons learned: don't grow up, never go to the doctor, never wish for anything.

In other news, Millie has a new look. She makes it when she's trying to squeeze the life out of something/someone. Or maybe she's just working on a little surprise for me in her diaper.

I hate moving

2010-08-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Even though all we have to move is this

And this

I just hate to leave this

And these
And especially time with this

So if you see this (Millie wanting to drive back to Oregon)

Don't feel bad. It's not that we don't love this

It's just... this

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

2010-08-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

We've recently celebrated some big things.

For Millie's half-birthday, I made half a cake and we let her destroy a copy of "The Economist". Luckily, she learned all there is to know through osmosis.

We went to visit family in Utah, so Millie could have her first piano lesson with grandma.

Mr. Lund and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. Here is the only photographic evidence we have. Yes, Mr. Lund was picking us up from the airport after a delayed flight. No, Millie wasn't that happy on the flight, but was very happy to see her daddy again. Yes, Mr. Lund is the best husband in the world, and I love him more than ever. Best two years of my life!

I walked in the door to this display on the floor.

And, Millie celebrated still fitting in the sink. Then, she figured out how to turn on the water, and celebrated being naked. (Let's face it. She loves nakedness.)

"Please, Daddy? Can I please have a pony?"

2010-07-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

Best Buddies/Bullies

2010-07-14T21:13:00.001-07:00

Millie's has a best friend named Esther. Usually, they play nicely.

And sometimes, their babysitter just sits there and takes pictures while they don't play as nicely.

(Watch that sneaky Esther in pursuit of what she wants)

And then, Millie pulled Esther's hair. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good shot of that one.

That's what friends do, right?

See Millie Sit

2010-07-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

Millie sits,

During her book club meeting

And mommy braids
note: I realize that a baby sitting up is rather anticlimactic to some, but we were pretty excited when she started a little while ago.

My Chinese Secret Admirer

2010-07-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I have a secret admirer. I haven't had one of those since the little boy in elementary school who secretly gave me a sticker that had a dog kissing a cat. In response, I said, "gross!"

To have one now, is still gross, but also rather intriguing. His latest secret message translated to be, "Still like it here - to support you"

Does he like my blog, and he wants to support it, or is it a secret code that I'm supposed to decipher? Maybe it's one of those key words like, "I have a red ribbon" that actually means, "run!"

Another recent message I got, said, "Long drive straight toward the planet's people, the inverse falter on the road in the gorge who achieve their goals more easily."

Now, I don't know what that means, but gorges and aliens make me nervous and I'm really not sure what this guys wants.

Either way, I love support, and until I receive further secret messages, I'm not running any more (I only say that after the race this morning that left me jello for legs. More on that later.)!

note: as sweet as my secret admirer is, I wouldn't recommend clicking on his links. They may or may not be porn sites.

Can't Resist

2010-07-07T09:54:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to find a good topic to post these cute pictures, but instead, I'll just post them. Enjoy!

I know this one is blurry, but the pose is just too good.

Over the river and through the woods, to the Lund's house they came!

2010-07-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

B's parents came for the weekend which included my MIL's birthday, B's birthday, and the U.S.'s birthday. Luckily for me, our town threw a big parade so that I didn't have to. Rather than bore you with our goings-on, I'll just overload you with pictures of the weekend.

Intel Museum

Silver Falls State Park

The beach: another cold and windy trip
At the Rose Gardens.

Millie loves rose petals

Picking berries
What happens when Grandma comes to town!

Before:
After:

With Grandpa...and some gel

Did I miss something?

2010-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

For those who can't read this zoomed-in sign (I was driving when I took this picture. Don't tell my mom), it says, "The New Miracle Food: Burrito"

I can't think of anything new or miraculous about burritos.

OMSI and the blue nose

2010-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

My antisocial blogging self has decided to repent and forsake my bloggy sins. I'm back--reborn and ready to start blogging again. I'm sure none of you missed me, but I was lost, and now I'm found.

Imagine being in a room, where balls are flying at you right and left. Now, take your mind out of the high school batting cage, or the twilight zone, and put it in OMSI! The place where all your wildest dreams really do come true.

We met ET there as well (meeting him wasn't in my wildest dream. Actually, that one was pretty normal in comparison to some of the others). He's taller than I remembered him being.

They also had this machine that sensed your heat, where you could show your true colors. If there was any question before, now you all know. I have a blue nose. (Not quite sure why I'm grabbing my arm pit...)

And some people don't even have to be dreaming to have hair like this.

My parents and brother, John E came for a visit. Hence the random boy in all these pictures. Here's my mom after a 13 hour drive

And a 2 hour hike

In other news, Millie is thinking of dressing as Justin Bieber for Halloween.

Just one more update: I just took a free "real age" test, and apparently, my virtual age is -.1999999 years old, and my life expectancy is 99.2 years. What does that mean? Am I too young to have a child?

I wish I knew this girl

2010-06-20T22:01:00.001-07:00

Who wouldn't have a great day after this pep talk?

Jessica's Daily Affirmation

There's a Chance that Millie Might Possibly be Ready for Solid Food

2010-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Rock On; Live Long

2010-05-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

When we asked people what the must-see things in Seattle were, they said

Pike Place Market to see the guy who throws fish. (He's behind the cute girls and the pig)

Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum (they had a Jimi Hendrix exhibit)
Eat Good Food

The Space Needle
Snoqualmie Falls

Apartment for Sale!

2010-05-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

I realize that this is a long shot, but I thought I'd reach out to anyone reading this to see if there's anyone looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Provo for May-August. We are still trying to sell our contract (paying double rent stinks!). Here are the specs:

1-bedroom, 1-bathroom,
$600/month (May is already paid for, but you can move in immediately)
A/C and Heat
Dishwasher
Laundry facilities in the apartment complex
High Speed Internet and Cable included
All utilities paid for except electricity (we paid on average $17/month)
1 mile from BYU campus, withing walking distance to 2 grocery stores
Great location and neighborhood.

Dinner with the Lunds

2010-05-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Some Cute Pictures

2010-05-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

To All My Faithful Readers

2010-05-10T11:26:00.001-07:00

I have recently set some new goals for myself, and as part of them, I'm starting a new blog to record my more personal spiritual insights. For any of you faithful readers who are interested in checking it out, feel free. The link is on my side bar.

I promised to document our adventures...

2010-05-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

We spent the day yesterday in Portland with our friends, "The Other Lunds".

Aaron and Caroline are here in Hillsboro from BYU doing an internship with Intel as well. It's just a coincidence that we're both Lunds. I actually don't have any pictures of them on here, but they were there.

Here are a few pictures of our adventures yesterday.

A cool forest

The Pittock Mansion

Overlooking Portland

At the Farmer's Market

An elephant we found in a park

In Powell's Book store (a really really big book store--a whole city block big and probably 3 stories tall)
We also found a really yummy Italian place for dinner, and went to "Voodoo Doughnuts" to try one of the very famous/weird doughnuts there.

The Parable of the BYU Sweatshirt

2010-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

The babe is snoring softly in her bed, so I will take this opportunity to teach you all a lesson that I've learned in the past week here in this exotic land.

Since we've been here, 3 separate people have randomly approached me and word for word have said, "What ward are you in?"

Now, at first I thought it was one of those stories like the BYU students in Jerusalem who were told not to talk to people about their beliefs, but the people complained that they still had a light in their eyes.

Then, I realized that in every case, I was wearing my sister's BYU sweatshirt. (She doesn't know that I have it... and she won't until she gets back from her mission and sees all our pictures. In some instances, an eye for an eye still applies.)

It reminded me of this talk that was given at a BYU forum.

There's something very creepy and yet comforting that there are people all over the world who are watching.

Speaking of creepy...

From the Rockies to the Hills...boro

2010-05-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Since we got here, we've been partying like it's 1999. We've been to Portland, shopped at IKEA, walked down Main street in Hillsboro (and around town a bit more), went to the ocean, went to Tillamook cheese factory, eaten at a little authentic Mexican restaurant, and met a hippie. I think I'm going to like it here. Here are a couple of pictures:

At the cold and windy beach

Millie and Daddy in the tulips. (To the owner of these tulips, thanks for letting us take a picture on your driveway)

What Millie thought of the airport
Millie touching the ocean for the first time

Goodbye Provo

2010-04-28T20:55:00.001-07:00

I passed a car wash yesterday that showed the time and temperature. It said that it was +266 degrees Fahrenheit. (I took a picture but it was too small and blurry...I was driving after all.) So, I've decided that I'm through with Utah's crazy weather. We've up and moved to Hillsboro, Oregon. Yep, we're camping out (almost no furniture) in a cute little apartment, in a city just west of Portland, and being amazed by how pretty it is here. Millie is enjoying her new "room" (our walk-in closet) and I am enjoying our washer and dryer. I can't believe I've been this long without them!

I'll do my best to document our adventures here.

Baby Einstein

2010-04-21T10:37:00.001-07:00

I guess today is a day for new hair styles.

The Reason I Shouldn't Impulse Shop: 9.5 inches

2010-04-21T08:41:00.001-07:00

The Life Changing and Completely Obvious Realization, About 3 Months Late

2010-04-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

The other morning, I peeked into Millie's bed to check if she was still sleeping. Her eyes were wide awake, and she had guilt written all over her face--like I had caught her in the act of not sleeping when she was supposed to. And then it hit me.

I'm a mom.

I had given my parents that same look when I thought I was smarter than they were, and could get away with breaking rules in the name of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And then there was the look that meant, "Are you crazy?"

(Sorry the picture is so blurry. I took it on my phone...)

But now, I'm on the other end. What am I going to say when Millie is in kindergarten and asks me if she can have a cell phone or an iPad? Or worse, when we're having dance parties in the kitchen and she gives me that "are you crazy?" look, am I going to just tell her that those moves were cool in "my day"?

Luckily for me, I have all kinds of blackmail photos already. Like this one of little miss binkie-ear.

Updates...

2010-04-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

We love toga parties! Millie's thigh rolls are much cuter than mine are.

To account for my disaster in the kitchen (Who uses timers when they're baking? Apparently only smart people), and in honor of the season, we named this our unleavened Easter cake/cracker.

This morning I heard what sounded like Darth Vader with hiccups. Maybe Millie has a future in film?

A Series of Sad Faces

2010-03-24T15:57:00.001-07:00

Lest she think that she was always a cute and smiling baby, I took a few sad pictures for Millie to enjoy later in life (along with the naked pictures to add to the wedding video someday...).

There's just something very cute about her bottom lip

And in other news, my love got an internship for the summer in Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland area). We're super excited for the adventure of living in that very green and very liberal state.

Oh Blessed Day

2010-03-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Millie was blessed on Sunday by my wonderful husband. It was fun to have a baby blessing in the single's ward, and even more fun to have all our family there to experience it.

Here's grumpy Millie on the day she was blessed

And happy Millie earlier in the day

Here's a better shot of the outfit. Nice "tights" eh? More like "looses"

She was given some wonderful blessings. It was such a special experience to hear her receive those blessings and I'm excited to see how she uses them throughout her life.

I Forgot a Dryer Sheet!

2010-03-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

Millie is known for how much hair she has--and for a good reason. Last night after her bath, I blow dried her hair without combing into any sort of style at all--just to see the natural look.

Doesn't she slightly resemble a hedgehog?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Only $4 if you wear green

2010-03-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

We went up to Logan over the weekend to hang out with my brother and his family, and to run the "Shamrock Shuffle." It was my first 5K since the babe's birth, and for me, the race was appropriately named. We finished running just minutes before a storm started, and so we got to drive home in the worst of it.

Julie (Drew's wife), Drew (my cousin-sort of), me, Mike (my brother), Julia (my aunt), Janice (my cousin-really), Steve (Janice's hub). We were sporting green for the reason that the title of this post suggests.

B ran the 1 mile race with Millie

Here's Millie and me after the race

And just another recent photo because I like it

Another Battle Lost

2010-03-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

B and I rarely disagree on anything, but if we do, it seems to come down to one of two subjects: my cookies, and toilet paper. We'll leave the cookies to another post, and for now, focus on the latest debate about the TP. B really loves a certain kind of TP that is really nice, soft, thick and consequently, expensive. (Which is funny because between the two of us, he's usually even more the frugalisto than I am.) I like the stuff, but every time I go TP shopping, I can hardly bring myself to spend the extra dough on something that we're going to throw in the toilet and never see again.

Last week, I bought some TP that was on sale, and it turned out to be not only inexpensive, but also cheap--like the stuff they use in gas station bathrooms. Bad decision. I can live with it, but you end up using twice the amount than you would with the good stuff. Too bad. B wins for now and probably forever more on this issue.

Does this mean I should start couponing again?

GIVE ME A PIECE OF THAT CAKE!!

2010-03-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

Another Obsession Post--I promise to be more interesting soon

2010-02-17T12:03:00.001-08:00

My friend Kierstin took some pictures of little miss Millie before she grows up too much. Here are a few of my favorites.

It's Just Be-Cousins

2010-02-13T03:12:00.000-08:00

Millie got to meet her cousin (well, second cousin once removed to be exact), Molly for the first time. They are 3 days apart, and look to be about the same size, and have about the same amount of hair...just different colors.:)

My cousin Suzana (Molly's mom)
Molly seeing someone else with as much hair as she has. (Millie didn't want to wake up for the photo shoot. Hence her mad face.)
Millie's reaction

Check it Out

2010-02-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am obsessed with my baby. Wouldn't you be?

Check out this video to see what she surprised us with today.

Best Birthday Ever

2010-02-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I turned a quarter of a century. I just never thought I'd make it to my mid-20s, and here I am. Wow. It seems like 25 is a significant birthday--not quite as significant as 12 or 14 or 16 were, what with all those stake dances and starting to date and drive to think about, but still significant. So, in honor of my extreme age, we dropped off Millie for her first babysitting gig with her Grandma and Grandpa in Bountiful, and hit the town.

Here's where I would put the photographic evidence if I had any. Sorry.

We went bowling, ate Mexican food with horrible salsa, and danced by the light of the stars by the Bountiful temple. It was possibly the best date I've ever been on, and arguably my best birthday as well.

It seems that every year gets better.

I wonder what she's dreaming about

2010-02-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

Am I losing it?

2010-02-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

...or did our baby really sleep over 6 hours last night? She's such a good one.

The unfortunate truth is that I was awake for 2 of those hours.

Another lesson learned.

Baby Millie

2010-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

Announcing...

Millie Lund

The cutest girl born this century, and the talk of the town with her extreme amounts of hair.

Here are her stats:

Born: Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Weight: 7 lbs. 2 oz.
Height: 19 inches

First Family Photos

"Extremely Modern Millie"

Barney and his brother with their new babies--born about 4 months apart

Cute little legs and feet
Chillaxin on a quilt her aunt Dianey made for her

The first "after birth" shot

A few more details for those interested:

I went into labor on my own on Saturday about noon. By 2pm, my contractions were less than 5 minutes apart, and so we took off to the hospital. By the time we got there, I was dilated to almost 6 cm., so they checked me in upstairs, and gave me an epidural. After that, it was smooth sailing. The whole experience was wonderful and just perfect. It was faster and smother than I imagined it would be, and I love this beautiful little girl more than I thought imaginable. Looking at my own baby pictures, little Millie looks pretty familiar. My hair was almost exactly the same color, thickness and length. And right now, I'm feeling like I could make a showing on the Biggest Loser. 13 lbs lost in 3 days could probably compete, right?

Jack

2010-01-23T07:15:00.001-08:00

I didn't start watching 24 until last season, so I never saw how Jack Bauer interacted with his wife, but I can't imagine that they had a very good relationship.

I mean, not only is he always the only choice, but also, he never has any time,

AND he can't end any conversation normally.

Just a thought.

Okay, one more thing: for those who are still waiting to hear, yes, I am a day over-due and no, the baby hasn't come yet. But have you seen the snow? I would stay where it's nice and warm too!

That Fateful "A"

2010-01-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

My love taught me a valuable lesson. I've been speaking incorrectly my whole life (as often as I actually used medical vocabulary). I've been saying that I'm two centimeters dialated when in reality, I'm only two centimeters dilated. For some reason, dialate seems to sound better--like I'm progressed further than I actually am or something. Too bad. Still, with only a week and a half 'til our baby's due date, I guess I can be patient until I'm the patient.

Ba da bum.

Oh, and sorry that I have nothing interesting to blog about these days except my changing belly. There's not much else that I can think about these days... except the fact that 24 is back on. That should keep me occupied for the next few weeks.

Okay, Okay, I get it!

2010-01-01T07:03:00.001-08:00

I realize it's been much too long since I've posted. The truth of the matter is, with my love home from school for two whole weeks, I haven't done much of anything that I would normally do. But, today is a momentous occasion and I have to write about it.

Happy New Year everyone. When I was young and partying like it was 1999, I couldn't picture what it would be like to live in the year 2010. Well, here we are. This year, my new year's resolution is to have a baby and survive.

Our baby is officially full-term today. Yup, she could be born any time in the next 3 weeks (or maybe 4 if she's late). I can't wait to meet her! But, until I do, I'm going to spend all my time sleeping and doing things that may never be easy to do again...like going to the library, and cooking dinner.

Christmas Tree

2009-12-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last year, my love bought us my very first live Christmas tree. Well, Christmas is here again, and we got another beautiful live one! Woohoo! I love it! When I was putting lights on it, I got to the top and realized that I had way too many lights left over. So, what did we do? Just scrunched the excess up and made a star/modern piece of art for the top. Classic.

Oh yeah. And this is how we're keeping the tree from falling over. For some reason it didn't like being straight in the stand, and thus is now balancing by this string.

From President to Coach

2009-12-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who recently realized that BYU's football coach is named BRONCO Mendenhall and not BARAK O. Mendenhall? I spent all season trying to figure out why everyone always used his middle initial. I mean, he's not a general authority or anything.

Don't Tell My Mom

2009-11-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

We woke up late this morning.... Which explains why we were rushing around getting breakfast and lunch/showers/mediocre car scraping/my love eating in the car/my realization about 6 blocks from our house:

me: Oh. I shouldn't be driving.
my love: why not?
me: ummm.....I'll tell you when you're older.
my love: Oh no. You don't have your contacts in do you!?!??!??!!!?!

*pause*

Now, seeing and I haven't been friends since before I can remember. It was like good vision was the team captain, and I was always the one waiting and to be picked for the team, but never made the cut. Seriously. I had to wear a pirate patch taped to my glasses for a year or two. I think that added a lot to my awkward stage....

*play*

me: well....no. But you have better than perfect eyes so it's good that you're in the passenger seat.

hehe. Not a good rationalization as he was dropped off for school a few minutes later. Needless to say, I'm glad for the aimless wanderers walking around Provo this morning, (and for myself) that somehow, I made it home without killing someone.

Cows: the Provo variety

2009-11-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

Driving around BYU campus at 8 am, is like driving through cattle. The pedestrians just saunter around on the street like they have all day and the world revolves around them. The only difference is, cows will occasionally respond when you honk at them.

Halloween

2009-11-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well, another Halloween has come and gone. Our costumes last year (McCain and Palin) ended up being convincing enough that we felt like we needed something extra good this year. We also wanted to include our offspring in the costume, since who knows if I'll ever be pregnant again on Halloween.

So, this is what we came up with. (For those who can't tell, we're Humpty Dumpty and a King's man)

And, I cooked Halloween pizza. I couldn't get this picture to rotate, so you'll just have to turn your head.

Homecoming

2009-10-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Kendra and I have been doing our best to keep in shape during our pregnancies. So, in honor of homecoming week at BYU, we ran the 5k. We didn't do amazingly, but I'm pretty sure we beat all the other 6 month pregnant ladies. (We only beat the 65 year old lady by a minute, but you should've seen her! )

Here's some evidence:

MIlestones

2009-10-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Well, we've made it to the third trimester of this pregnancy. And, I'm excited to say, that I think my morning sickness is finally ending. It seems that I've said that a few times and always end up being really sick the next day, but really, this time, I'm feeling more confident. I haven't thrown up since Sunday!!!! I can't believe it. Heavenly Father sure is nice.

Husband Appreciation Day

2009-10-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever known a person who has influenced your life so much that you're no longer the same person, but much much more than you ever thought you could be? Yeah. Me too.

Confession time once again.

I have this boy that I like...a lot. It seems that blogs are the best place to share your secrets. After all, no one reads this blog right?

So, this boy that I like is absolutely drop dead gorgeous PLUS he is superman. Here are a few reasons I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him...and no, there is no murderer of love in this story:

He goes to school and is studying basically 17 hours a day, and still makes time to make me feel special

He cleans up my barf bowl almost every day and doesn't complain or get sick himself!

He is absolutely hilarious

He's an awesome dancer (he even impressed all the Latinos at the Hispanic conference dance party he went to)

He isn't picky (i.e. he says I'm a good cook)

He loves cheesecake

He plans on being really rich some day so we can go on missions and give all our money away

He has amazing grammar

He is optimistic

He is super frugal. Example: Our conversation at his school conference consisted of something like,
Me: How was it? Did you get any interviews?
He: No, But you wouldn't believe all the free stuff I got!!!

You never know how many free pens you'll need in your life.

He tells me how cute I am at least 5 times a day even though I'm blowing up like a balloon

When he plays his cello or sings, it melts my heart.

He's basically perfect. No, really.

Sorry, ladies, he's taken. I hate to break it to you, but there's little chance you'll find someone as amazing as the boy I like, but here's to trying!

Of fortune telling and parenting

2009-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I was hoping to get some good mileage off the mullet picture. Unfortunately, not all good things last, and its time to move on to a new blog post...

about telling the future.

Sunday, I was lying down and reading the palm of our baby (technically, it could have been any part of her, but this is my blog, so I'm just going to say it how it most likely happened). Now, I haven't read many people's palms, but I like to think that I sometimes have a knack for predicting the future.

I learned that our child's future either consists of a love of kick boxing, or tango. (It's hard to tell the difference.)

She even gave her daddy a good strong kick (his first one!) to which he promptly sent her to her room and told her to put on her jammies.

And, by popular request, here's a picture of her (taken by my computer...so it's not the best. Still, you get the idea).

I know it doesn't look too impressive, but there really is a baby in there! It's not just the three boxes of doughnuts I ate this morning.

Not a complaint, just an observation

2009-09-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

The other morning I woke up feeling like Autumn had come. There was a change in the air or something. It was like the seasons had gotten a hair cut, and had gone with a good ol' mullet. While summer is still in front, its only there on the way to the long, neglected part in the back that is fun, but gets old really fast.

I mean, let's face it. Does this guy look happy?