Their 50th Anniversary

On December 13, my paternal grandparents celebrated 50 years of marriage together. 50 years!

In a world where marriages tend to be full of unrealistic romantic ideals, arguments and struggles, divorce rates that soar higher and higher, and couples who skip marriage altogether, 50 years of commitment to the same person is a big deal!

My grandparents have nine children, over forty grandchildren (I can never keep track of exactly how many...), and one great-grandchild, and they rejoice in their posterity. Whenever possible, they travel to visit everyone when another grandchild is born or when someone reaches a milestone, including baptisms, births, marriages, and moves.

I feel so blessed to have been able to grow up visiting my grandparents regularly. They have taught me so much, mostly through example. When I think of my grandparents, I think of hard work, good food (and lots of it), selfless service, and devotion to their Father in Heaven. My family and my grandparents (and many of my aunts and uncles) spent lots of time building my parents' house and my grandparents' house. Whenever a holiday or family gathering comes around, the kitchen is full of people preparing a wonderful meal that is always accompanied by smiles, laughter, and a few stern reminders to help wash the dishes afterward. My grandparents have served two missions for the Church, and despite not being able to visit family whenever they wanted they have only had good things to say about serving the people in those areas they were sent to. When it comes to church callings, they fulfill their duties diligently and with love.

And every time I make a mistake, or do anything that makes them upset, they always forgive me. I have only felt love for my grandparents, and only felt love from them as well. I feel so blessed to know these two wonderful people, and to have them for an example in my life. May they reach their goal of another 20 years of marriage!

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for that I can't even begin to list everything. Husband Man gets after me occasionally because at night I sometimes say a really long prayer with things I am thankful for (and his ankles go numb). So I won't bore you all with everything I'm grateful for, and instead will share some fun stories and just a few things. (Sorry it is belated!)

I'm so grateful for Husband Man's parents. They were so wonderful the entire weekend, from cooking the Thanksgiving meal to washing dishes to holding Gummy Bear... Mama J even put Gummy Bear to bed every single night we were there! It was a wonderful, blessed break from being a mommy, because I didn't have to worry about a thing. It let me play Age of Empires with Papa M and Husband Man without stopping to check on Gummy Bear. It was so much fun to watch Mama J play with Gummy Bear, because she was willing to do everything! Poopy diapers? Done. Food? Check. Naptime? He's down. Bathtime? Of course!

And Husband Man's Aunt, who I will dub "Foxy", spent lots of time doting on Gummy Bear too. She snuggled with him, talked with him, played with him, and, of course, corrupted him, as aunts are wont to do. There is this song that became big out there on the interwebs called "What Does The Fox Say" and Foxy loves this song (hence her nickname). So she spent lots of time showing the video to Gummy Bear on her phone.

Right before we left Husband Man's parents' house, I asked his dad to take family photos for us since Gummy Bear knows how to smile. As children always are, Gummy Bear was a booger and just fussed the entire time. Mama J was making faces, shaking toys, making noises, crinkling the wet wipes container, even plugging in a string of lights and trying to get him to look at that. Foxy was trying to help too, in her special auntie way, by playing the Fox song on her phone. Of course, Gummy Bear stared right at her the entire time she played it! We just shook our heads.

Gummy Bear also learned a few new tricks over Thanksgiving. Mama J found her booster seat for little ones, and strapped it to one of the dining chairs so he could sit at it. We put toys on the tray, and he learned how to wave his arm and smack toys against it. He also sat in the cart for the first time, which he liked. Mama J and I went grocery shopping and stopped in the baby aisle to get formula. We were distracted by the toys, and Mama J picked a couple out she wanted to get for him. One was zip-tied to a piece of cardboard, and we handed it to him so he could hold the toy. We forgot that anything he holds will get licked, slurped, and gnawed on, and so ten minutes later I looked over and half of the cardboard was in tiny confetti pieces all over Gummy Bear, the blankets holding him up, his face, his chin folds... it was a big mess!

We had so much fun being able to see Gramma D, Foxy, Papa M, and Mama J. I'm so grateful we live closer to them, and to my parents too, so we can share Gummy Bear's silliness with them and spend more time with them. I'm so grateful we don't have to make the 11-17 hour drive to see family, especially since having a kid made it even longer. I'm so grateful that our family loves us, and wants to see us and help us out. I'm so grateful for the Gospel, and for my son and how awesome he is, and for my loving Husband Man who tries so hard to support me and make me feel awesome and beautiful. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!

Gummy Bear: 4 Months Old

(He's 4.5 months at this current time, but I'm a mom now-- I'm always late. No matter how hard I try.)

Gummy Bear went in for his 4 month checkup at the beginning of November, and here are the specs:

He's about 25.5 inches tall, 63%; 15.2 pounds, 41%; and his head is 43 centimeters, 86%. BMI is 27%. He has a big head! He must be as smart as his daddy!

Gummy Bear is turning into such a goofball. He is starting to get excited over seeing certain toys over other toys; right now it seems like he loves the stuffed bunny rattle that came with our baby swing, and the elephant rattle that my mom bought him. He also is a pro at finding (and sucking/chewing on) the tags of all his toys. He will sit there and suck on the tags for forever! He still loves bathtime, and now that he kicks his feet when he's excited, it means that I often get wet while I'm bathing him!

Speaking of putting things in his mouth... if it touches his palm, he grabs it and tries so hard to get it into his mouth! We're talking EVERYTHING! His feet, his burp rag, my hair, his toys... He'll get something close to his mouth and drool and lick it until it's soaked! Then we just trade it out for a fresh one... sometimes I'll just let him chew on a burp rag, because it's easier to clean up!

The goober also loves to be upright. When he's sitting down, if he wants to sit completely upright but is stuck in a reclining position, he puts his chin to his chest and tries so hard to sit up! It's so funny to watch. He also adores standing, probably because he can see everything, and more people can see him... which means he gets more attention. He LOVES attention and definitely knows how to get it! He's very social, and smiles and smiles when you get up in his face and make faces and noises at him.

(He's sitting in my lap right now, putting his hands on the back of mine as I type and trying to grab my fingers as they fly across the keys. I love this little guy!!)

He hasn't quite figured out how to giggle yet (although he's really close!). We blow raspberries on his tummy and goose him and make faces... He soaks up every minute! He only holds his bottle when he sees it and I'm not giving it to him fast enough, and then he's only grabbing it to put in his mouth like his toys. Otherwise I guess that's Mom's job! I've replaced one of his evening feedings with solids, I just stuff him silly with oatmeal or rice, or bananas, pears, peaches, or apples, and he's been sleeping (mostly) through the night (which is A-MAZING).

He's figured out how to roll over, and very recently (about 4.5 months-- today actually) he's started rolling more than once. Not in succession, but enough in about five minutes that I have to stop cooking dinner and move him away from the books, or that stack of papers, or Husband Man's MTG cards... When he is on his tummy, sometimes he'll put his face down on the ground and stick his rear in the air, sort of making an A with his body (not a very tall one, but you get the picture). Oftentimes he scootches forward, so he's sort of "crawling" but not really (and it doesn't look very intentional, either! Hahaha).

(I've since put him on the floor while I finish writing this, and he's rolling everywhere! We are in trouble now! That will make it harder to keep him from licking the carpet!!)

He also has started laying on his tummy when he sleeps, occasionally. I've discovered (well, Grandma S discovered) that he loves to sleep on his side, and usually he ends up on his back again. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, sometimes I'll hear him moving around, eating his blankets and scratching at the sides of the pack 'n' play, eventually ending up on his side again or on his tummy.

One of my all-time favorite things is to hear and/or watch him sucking in his sleep. If his mouth is open you can see his tongue roll up, just like a little puppy, and his jaw moves up and down and you can hear him smacking in his sleep... I just think it's so cute! The other cute, puppy-like thing he does-- he sticks something in his mouth and bites down on it, and then he looks around with it hanging out of his mouth!

Did I mention that he LOVES attention? He woos all the ladies, regardless of where we are. He smiles at the checkout ladies in Walmart, who go out of their way to say hello while we're in the self-checkout lanes. He flirts with the women at church, as well as the Sister Mishes. He has all of his grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles, wrapped around all his little fingers and toes-- all he has to do is flirt with his victim, and smile and grin, and 9.5 times out of ten they pick him up.

Of course, Mama is still his favorite. If Husband Man is holding him and he hears my voice, he cranes his head around, trying to see me. If he can see me, sometimes he'll whine to be pulled out of the carseat or to be picked up... but if I move out of his sight and don't say anything to him then he eventually stops. The chiropractor checked out his back and GB started crying halfway through, and when the chiro tried to distract him, GB just stared at me and whimpered. Still a goober!

He's still a good baby, too. We traveled to Utah, and even though we spent three (probably more like four or five) days in the car, he did pretty well, and only cried close to the end. I'm sure it helped that two of his aunts and Grandma S were playing with him the entire time... But he also endured the carseat while we made trips to move the last of our stuff from our old apartment, and he sits through church without making a peep (except in excitement). We still love having him in our home, and I love watching him grow and develop every day!

Yockeyite Banter Part Four

While traveling in the car with Husband Man...
HM: Upon closer inspection, a.k.a. I actually looked at it...

HM: Ok, those are smokestacks, not cell towers. I know because I actually looked at them.

A screamo song comes on the radio...
HM: I'm male. I have a guitar. Look at my tongue. (Does a screamo impersonation)


While at lunch with my seesters...
KT: (interrupting her own story) And I'm sorry, but that guy is running and his pecks are flapping...
Meema: What? Where??


Overheard while Husband Man was changing a poopy diaper...
H: Oh... Man... Ugh...... I know it gets worse, but.........
H: Son... I am your father... I come with an important message: Poop is not ok, unless it goes in the toilet.


Visiting an Investigator (to the church) about her baptism the next day...
Sister Missionary: You have white underwear, right? To wear under the jumpsuit?
Investigator: White underwear? Of course not. Who do you think I am, the Virgin Mary?


While feeding the Sister Missionaries, talking about peanut butter...
Sister Missionary (to New Member): New Member, are you chunky or smooth?


Driving on the highway late at night with a friend after a loooong day of shopping and a reception...
A tumbleweed is suddenly blown across the road, and Friend freaks out...
Friend: Oh my gosh... That scared me! Oh my gosh...
Me: It scared you but you didn't even slow down! What if that had been a small animal???
Friend: Actually I had just been thinking... If a small animal runs across the road, I'll just run over it with my truck!


While Husband Man is feeding Gummy Bear some rice cereal...
I turn around to see him having GB drink the cereal right out of the bowl...
Me: Husband! Don't do that!

HM: Stop spitting it out!
Me: You can feed him smaller bites. Sometimes that helps. But you can do it however you want.
HM: If we were doing this my way, we'd be using a funnel.

This Halloween Was A Scream

So this year we were SO excited to dress up! We had the perfect costumes lined up. It was going to be awesome.

I wish I could remember to stand up straight... Grr.

Woohoo!! Star wars!

Except you see little Yoda there?

Ok, here's the deal. Our church was having a Halloween party tonight, a pizza potluck and games for the kids and socializing for the adults. Everyone dressed up, it was tons of fun... except for us. I was in the room for about five minutes, and then Gummy Bear decided it was time for a meltdown. A total, utter meltdown, complete with screaming that the ear has never heard from his little lungs. We're talking, SCREAMING.

At one point the Sister Missionary from the older missionary couple came over, and said "I am so glad to know that he cries! I have never heard him cry, ever!" I guess he is pretty well-behaved during church.

So I took my pizza out in the hall and tried to calm him down, and when nothing worked-- no formula, no binky, nothing at all-- I just laid him on the couch and let him scream. After he had stuffed himself with pizza, Husband Man came out and sat with Gummy Bear, and finally he stopped crying and ate a little. We dressed him up and tried to put him in the carrier on Husband Man's back (you know, like in the movie, with Luke and Yoda....) but Gummy Bear sat there for about two minutes and started crying again. So we took him out and managed to chat for a bit, shoving the binky back in GB's mouth, and then after I had talked with a friend about the problems with our apartment I went out and found GB asleep in Husband Man.

So Halloween definitely wasn't as much fun as we thought, but I'm still glad we were able to dress up! It was so fun, and everyone got a kick out of Gummy Bear being Yoda. (I always get some selfish satisfaction when my son draws good attention, I'll admit it.) I'll have my dad check my hearing sometime soon, and hopefully next year will involve a lot less (unnecessary) screaming.

From Idaho to SoDak!

So mid-August Husband Man was finally offered a job! They only offered it to him a week before the starting date, though...!! I admit that I panicked, and so instead of trying to pack all of our stuff up in four days, we just packed to be away from home for a couple of weeks. I stayed with my parents while Husband Man started work and found an apartment for us to live in. At the end of August, we borrowed a truck and horse trailer from my dad, and in a whirlwind weekend we drove to Idaho, spent a day packing and cleaning our entire apartment, and drove back to SoDak. (Yes, we did it all in three days. It was a LONG weekend. AND we got our entire deposit back! Minus the cost of carpet cleaning, but whatever.)

Once everything was all packed I took a moment to take a picture of our apartment, and then it hit me. We're moving on. We were married during a semester of college, and because we did three semesters a year we did nothing but school and classes for the first two and a half years of our marriage. We spent two of those years in the same apartment, in the same ward, making friends and memories. Gummy Bear joined our family only a couple months before the move. And suddenly, almost without warning, it's all packed in a horse trailer and we're going somewhere else. It was tough. Even writing this, over a month since the move, I still remember those feelings of anxiety, stress, of being sad that we're moving and leaving everything I'd worked so hard to have for those two, almost three years.

And then I turned around and took a deep breath, hugged my husband, and got in the car and drove away. I'm not too dumb to know that there isn't more for us outside of Idaho, more opportunities and people to meet and places to see.

We were so blessed, SO blessed, to find an apartment with almost the same amount of space as our old one, with a washer and dryer (YESSSSSSS), for only about $200 more than we were paying before, utilities all included. The people in our church branch have been so warm and welcoming (reminding me how much small-town mentality is awesome), and the members are still asking how we're doing and if there's anything they can do for us. Husband Man likes his job, he's just finished training and he is waiting to be placed in a project. We're literally three hours from every city in SoDak, and shopping is scarce here, and it's difficult to visit our families or the temple without planning a whole weekend, but I'm still so happy that we're closer to family and have more opportunities throughout the year to see them.

So close to rolling over!

Simplify, And Be Content.

This afternoon, while browsing Pinterest, I came across a beautiful quote from a very intelligent lady:

[This is not my image/subway art/etc. I just found it on the interwebs.]

Marjorie Hinckley is the wife of the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. I don't remember overly much about either of them because I was young when they were alive, but whenever I see pictures of the two of them, you can tell they love each other SO much. This quote is, I think, so beautiful, and greatly depicts her wisdom and intelligence. 

As women, we tend to feel pressure. Pressure to be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, to turn our children into geniuses and our husbands into romantics. Pressure to have perfect meals, to have a spotless house, worthy to be in a magazine. Pressure to look fashionable, to have clean and presentable children. Pressure to never get sick or depressed, to have endless amounts of energy. Pressure to create perfect projects, to host perfect parties, to take beautiful vacations, to host perfect holidays. Pressure to document our perfect lives to prove that our lives are perfect. Pressure to do it all, and then some, without relief, and never complain. 

News flash! Women are imperfect, and that's ok.

"We have to decide what is important..."

Seriously. What is important to you? This isn't the same answer for everyone. Some women crave romanticism from their husbands. Some women want to host perfect holidays for their children. Think through what you do in your life, and decide what takes priority. Maybe your housecleaning isn't quite as important as taking your children to a park or helping them build with legos. Deciding what's important is up to you.

"...and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us."

Maybe you have too much on your daily plate of things to accomplish. Maybe you squash that thought in the back of your mind that tells you that you can't do it all. Maybe you feel like you're always tired and rundown, and when you lay down to sleep at night you dread the thought of waking up and going through it all over again. Maybe what you're trying to do is simply too much.

"We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something."

Why do you have so much on your plate? I understand that some days are just full, messy days. What about all the rest of your days? What is filling them that you feel pressure to do so much, and then feel failure every time you don't succeed? What are you trying to prove? What does it matter?

"We have to learn to be content with what we are."

This part and the maturity part are my favorite parts of this quote. I never thought of trying to do it all just to keep up with other women as a lack of maturity. I think one of the biggest downfalls of being women is that we judge each other. We do. We judge each other all the time, and in doing so, we compare ourselves to that other person. Whether it's "Oh, she's so beautiful and amazing, I'll never be able to be like that" or whether it's "Look, she made a mistake, and that makes me feel good about myself, haha on her", we are still judging and comparing ourselves to each other. And what is worse, I think we do it without realising it sometimes. I figured that out one day when I said something to the effect of "I'm not pretty" and when my husband asked why, I compared my post-pregnancy body to that of another woman, to which my husband asked "Why do you do that to yourself?" I realised that I was almost saying things like that because I was used to it, as if I couldn't give any other answer besides "I'm not good enough ever". 

I know we can't change overnight. I know that the world isn't going to change. I know that we'll always feel pressure to act like nothing can stop us, not even childbirth. I know that there will always be that neighbor, that sister at your church, maybe even a relative or that in-law, who does seem like they can do it all. Maybe a few of them can. But I bet you five bucks that the people who look like they do it all shed countless tears into their pillows because they feel overwhelmed, because they can't do it all. But how you feel when you look at those people is entirely up to you. No one else. No one else should tell you that you're not good enough, because what's good enough for you isn't the same as what's good enough for someone else. There will be times when we fall short of goals and things that we felt like we should accomplish. There will be times when something as simple as vacuuming the floor just doesn't happen. That's ok. There are times when we should expand what's good enough for us, and we might not get it right the first time, or even the second or third or seventh or eighth time. That's ok too. I wish we could all look around and realise that it's not a contest. That we're good people. That successes and failures don't necessarily define us. That we are each individuals that are worthy of feeling content and happiness.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to:

Jacob 6:2 reads "O be wise; what can I say more?"

And Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us that...

Simplify. Take the little steps you need to slow down your lives as much as you can. Make sure you are taking care of yourself-- exercise, eat (as healthy as possible, without setting yourself up for failure), read scriptures, pray, sleep. Caring for yourself will only help you care for your family. Once you simplify, be content. And smile! A woman always looks best when she's smiling.

[Note: All images in this post were found on the internet. I honestly don't know who made them, or where they originated. If I find out, credit will be given where it is due. Thanks to those who make such beautiful art with the words of the wise.]

Texting Meema

Texting my little sister after her week-long horseback trip...
Meema: I am so filthy dirty right now I broke every single Sorensen record. I stink. Bad.
Me: How many days have you gone without a shower?
Meema: In the past six days I have showered once. Its been three days but I'm still in the same clothes I wore yesterday, and I've been wearing these pants for six days.
Me: How was the trip then? Awesome?
Meema: Heat exhaustion, dehydrated, and lack of sleep. Trip was awesome. Lots of gallivanting around in the moonlight when I should have been asleep. My hair still smells good which totally clashes with the b.o. smell
Me: You said "lots of gallivanting" and I pictured you and your horse prancing around together in a moonlit field
Meema: You pictured correctly

Me: You know what bothers me more than people who complain about their bad choices?
Meema: What
Me: People who whine when they're doing something amazing. "I just got a sunburn in Hawaii it hurts so bad :( "
Meema: Geez! You say, "shut up! Take it like a man! Life is about experiences! I hope you get skin cancer as karma for whining!" Did you say anything?
Me: No
Meema: Doesn't matter. Do it for America! ... Whoops, I'm sorry. I'm used to hollering at scouts.
Me: Hahaha that's awesome!
Meema: "GET UP THAT SPAR POLE! YOU CAN DO IT! YOU'RE ON FIRE! WHICH IS BAD CAUSE WE'RE IN A DROUGHT! SLOW DOWN!"
Me: Bahahahahaha no mercy from Meema!
Meema: "IS THAT HOW YOU PLAY LOGGER BALL? MY LITTLE SISTER CAN PLAY BETTER THAN THAT!" So much fun.

Meema: Well, I guess what will be, will be... My feet stink. Also my shoes. I'll never have non stinky feet.
Me: You've always had stinky feet. ... I mean, I'm sorry
Meema: Oh yeah? At least I shower! ........or did.


Meema: I could go inside and sleep but drivers seat of my truck seems just fine.
Me: Weirdo
Meema: For that I think I can drudge up some energy and move
Me: You're going to come home and sleep on the floor because your bed is too comfy
Meema: BAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOSH YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW FUNNY THAT IS
Me: But it's true! You sleep anywhere but a bed!
Meema: I made it in the bunkhouse
Me: I just pictured you dragging yourself across the ground and through the doorway of the bunkhouse
Meema: In the past week I have slept: on a porch swing, on the floor, on uneven hay bales, on the roof of a shed, and in two different bunk houses
Me: So if all the workers sleep wherever they end up, then it must resemble what looks like after a party with drunk hungover unconscious people all over the place
Meema: I was going to deny that and then I thought about it and realised that's probably true. Even at base camp, where we all have bunks and where everyone goes on their days off, people sleep on the porch and on couches
Me: Cause beds are too comfy for you now
Meema: More like they just sit down and are too tired to get up again


Me: How are you??
Meema: IM JUST GREAT
Me: Bahahahahaha really?
Meema: REALLY GREAT. SO GREAT. FANTASTIC.
Me: AWESOME
Meema: ISNT IT


I sent her a picture of Gummy Bear...
Meema: OH MY GOSH HE'S SO CUTE I COULD JUST THROW UP BUTTERFLIES
Me: OH MY GOSH WHAT KIND OF BUTTERFLIES
Meema: ALL MAGICAL KINDS


Me: I'm going to try and send you a package tomorrow if I remember
Meema: It's alright, I'll be home next weekend
Me: I'm sorry... :(
Meema: Haha it's cool. I went to Walmart yesterday
Me: Woah. Civilization.
Meema: NO KIDDING THERE WAS A CAR SHOW IN TOWN TOO MANY PEOPLE I FREAKED
Me: Did you hide in the clothes racks?
Meema: Hahahaha no... But I refused to eat at KFC, so I took my food and parked at a dead end somewhere.
Me: Hahahahahahahahahaha
Meema: It was really pathetic, actually.


Meema: I've decided that when I have a kid, I'm going to decorate the nursery in camo.
Me: Do it


Me: Oh my gosh I smell so bad
Meema: Me too.


Meema: Hahahaha talking to one guy and he ran into a chair and realized he was going the wrong way oh my gosh I feel bad because he's embarrassed but I really want to laugh so hard
Me: Bahahahahaha
Meema: Hahaha it's still funny hahahaha


Meema: This guy thought I was 24
Me: Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Meema: Why is that funny
Me: It's just weird to think of you as 24 hahahahaha
Meema: I know. I was flattered though


Trying to talk to me about My Fair Wedding With David Tutera...
Meema: Aha hahahahaha David has a cowgirl bride and he's so confused by her and wearing boots to the wedding hahaha hilarious
Meema: "What's a redneck?" Hahahaha David hahaha he doesn't know what a hick is either
Meema: David Tutera can't get on a horse and he ripped his pants oh my gosh I'm crying this is so funny
Meema: HELLO WHERE ARE YOU
Me: I'M MOVING INTO MY NEW APARTMENT
Meema: TALK TO ME OR I'LL CRY


Meema: So today the boss sent me to buy a soda cause the machine always takes his money and the machine took the money and didn't give me a soda but I heard it drop so I kicked it and reached up  in it and got two sodas and a penny somewhere so now I'm the coke machine master
Me: Hahahahaha that's funny oh man hahahaha
Meema: I feel so accomplished
Me: You can put that on your resume. "Coke Machine Master"
Meema: Another one from my boss: "How do I get across this? me: "Well the road goes by the fence, sir." "yeah but there's a gully." Minute later "Emily?" "yes sir?" "why didn't you make me listen to you?"


Love you, Meema!

Gummy Bear: 2.5 to 3 Months Old

So I was going to write a post when GB was 2 months old. Then I didn't have internet. Then I was going to write one when he was 2-1/2 months old, because that's about when his 2 month appointment was (because of the move and all). Then we discovered that every time I went to upload a picture, the internet crashed. Finally the landlord fixed it properly, so now you have tons of Gummy Bear pictures for your viewing pleasure!

He's become a lot more active. A LOT. He squirms and wiggles and kicks his feet, and he LOVES to look around and see everything he possibly can. When he's focusing on his toys or his hands or whatever, he purses his lips and drools like crazy and sometimes blows spit bubbles. He's become very drooly lately.

At his 2 (and a half) month appointment he weighed in at 13 pounds and just about 24 inches. I wish I knew percentiles, but they didn't say and I forgot to ask. He impressed the pediatrician with his strength and alertness, and he passed all his exams with flying colors. When it came time for shots, he took it like a pro. I stood next to him and held his little hand while the two nurses stabbed each leg at the same time. Three pokes, two on one leg, one on the other, and he wailed so hard he almost forgot to inhale. He only cried for 30 seconds, maybe a minute, however, and then he just looked up at me with big sad eyes and sucked on his binky. He is such a trooper, and he didn't start getting fussy until hours after he'd gotten the immunizations.

Snoozing with Dad! I swaddled him and left to rinse out his bottle and came back and it was too cute to pass up! He still does pretty well at night, although the last week we've had some serious trouble. (As in, up every two hours, which he rarely did before, and is not acceptable to his mom.) I think we're evening that out again, but he still has a "night", so even if he does get up every two hours, he goes right back to sleep after eating. THANK HEAVENS because Mama needs her sleep something fierce.

He also LOVES bathtime. He lays in the water and pumps his feet and waves his arms, splashing everywhere. He likes staring at his rubber duckies, and he gets really excited when he sees it. (This is as close to a naked picture as we'll ever get.)

He also LOVES to eat. If he wakes up from a long nap and it's past his three-hour eating mark, he makes sure to let us know how unacceptable it is. He usually eats four ounces (the norm), but sometimes demands dessert and has consumed six ounces in one sitting before!

He likes to sample whatever gets close to his mouth. Usually it's his hands, or his burp rags or blankets. He'll lick them and drool until whatever it is is completely soaked! Sometimes he chews on the side of my hand when I'm holding him.

I still love to snuggle him. There's just something about a baby cuddled up on your chest...

He also loves to sit up- none of this sissy reclining business (although he does tolerate that occasionally.) This walker turned out to be perfect because it's curved enough that it holds him up just enough. His feet are slightly closer to touching the floor now than they are in this picture, but he doesn't know he has feet yet so it's ok.

He also has this contagious smile! Lately he's become more social, and loves it when we focus right on him and make faces and talk to him.

People tell me how strong he is. He's always held his head up well, and he instigated that on his own-- when we saw that he was interested in it we just tried to help him out. He'll stick his legs out and stand up (with full support from us of course) and look around. Right now, when we do tummy time, he'll hold his head up really well but I think he needs to figure out his arms before he'll get anywhere. He does a pretty intense plank-- he'll arch his back and his feet wave around in the air and if his head is up high enough then he actually tips or "rolls" over. Sometimes he pumps his legs and gets them up under his tummy, like he's going to get up on his knees, but because his arms aren't strong enough that just shoves his face into the blanket and makes him mad. After a while though it seems to get harder for him to keep his head up (he gets tired, maybe) and then he starts grunting and complaining, all while licking his blanket or whatever is underneath him.

This is the latest trick he's discovered. He's been sticking his fingers in his mouth a lot lately. I've been trying to keep an eye on it, because I know if he gets them back far enough he can gag himself, and I also have to keep his fingernails trimmed even more now so he doesn't scratch up his mouth. He keeps scratching his face-- I even saw a scratch inside his ear!-- and I can't figure out how to fix that, or even just help it.

He has also become VERY vocal. He will talk and coo and squawk, and he can get very loud sometimes! It always makes us smile because he knows exactly how to charm us! We love him very much, and can't imagine our lives without him!

Gummy Bear!

SO MUCH has happened in the last two months! I can't believe it!

On July 7 Gummy Bear was born. I was right--it's a boy!! The labor and delivery couldn't have gone better, and we both did really well. Husband Man was a huge support throughout the entire thing! I had contractions all Saturday, and Sunday morning I woke Husband Man up at 5AM. We were at the hospital around 8, and then Gummy Bear was born at a quarter to three in the afternoon.

Before we left the hospital, the pediatrician looked at him and said in genuine surprise, "Wow, you guys, he looks really, really great for being two days old!"

Gummy Bear LOVED to chew on his fists. He always had his hands up by his mouth! I loved it so much, it was so adorable. Now he just chews on his binky.

Husband Man seemed to adjust pretty quickly--and pretty well--to being a dad!

 Babies fall asleep fast!

 What is that! Woah-- Is that hand mine???

 Gotta love that little bum!

 All clean! And a little chilly...

 Being a goober!

 My mom has this bouncer that lets him sit up. He LOVES it! Gummy Bear loves to sit up and look around and wiggle and squirm. Actually, he loves to wiggle and squirm no matter where he is! He's going to be a very busy boy. I have trouble getting pictures of him where his hands and feet aren't blurry!

I love this little man so much. The last week Husband Man has been at work (he has a job! More on that in another post) and so we've been apart. Gummy Bear went bald on top for a while, and in the last week and a half he's sprouted fuzz on top of his head. He's already going to look so different by the time Husband Man will see us again!

Gummy Bear is almost two months. He had a cold, so we went to the doctor to make sure he didn't have an ear infection (he didn't). The nurse weighed and measured him, and at almost seven weeks old he was just about 12 pounds, and 23 inches long! I love this little guy. He already has a personality. He loves to look around, is starting to talk and coo and make noises, and he wiggles constantly when he's awake. Sometimes he doesn't want to go to sleep, and so he will doze off and then suddenly wake up and wiggle and suck on his binky really quickly as if to say "Just kidding! I'm awake!" and he'll do that over and over again...!! I'm learning to snuggle him until he goes to sleep, and then we put him in the swing and cover him with a blanket so he stays nice and warm, and then he'll finally take a nap.

He's got long arms and long skinny legs, and bright big eyes. He charms EVERYONE! When I went to the dentist the assistants had a blast feeding him and talking to him while I had my teeth cleaned. When I went to dinner with my parents before the rodeo this last Saturday he had a blowout, and when I came back from the changing him in the car I stopped so an older lady could give him googly eyes. I love showing him off--I made an adorable baby!

He sleeps pretty well at night-- 9 times out of 10, if not better, he gives me five hours of sleep at night, eats, and then sleeps at least three more. He LOVES to eat-- I read online that a baby his age, on average, eats about 3-4 ounces. Sometimes he eats 5, even 5-1/2 ounces!! And when he gets really hungry he definitely makes sure to let us know!

I'm so grateful for this little spirit in my life. Husband Man and I love him so much. I love having such a pure, perfect little man. He reminds me to be the best person I can be, and that coupled with the immense support that Husband Man gives me buoys me up and makes me feel so good about myself-- even with the leftover pregnancy chub and clothes that still don't fit. I'm doing an amazing thing. I'm raising a baby. I'm supporting my husband while we move almost a thousand miles. Even when it seems like all I do is feed and change diapers, deep down I'm nurturing and loving two people as much as I possibly can--and then a little more.

Ok, enough of the gushing.

I'm trying to get back into the blogging, but we're moving this weekend and so it's still super crazy! But with the move and Husband Man's birthday coming up there should be lots to talk about!

Yockeyite Banter - Part Three

H: (while vacuuming) Hm... You've been sitting at the desk recently. Know how I can tell?
A: (looks over) ....there are lots of crumbs on the floor?
H: Yup.
A: ...I'm a crummy person.

While Husband Man was teaching his nephew the YMCA song...
Nephew: Y! M C E!

While waiting for our order at Taco Bell...
A:  I wanted, like, four chicken quesadillas but I didn't ask because I figured you'd get after me...
H: I'd tell you it wouldn't all fit in your tummy.
A: I'd make it fit!
H: You'd fill your stomach and all the way up--you'd have a bid of quesadilla hanging out your nose!
A: (laughs)

This one time, when Husband kissed me, his nose was runny and dribbled on my nose. Sous Chef thought it was hilarious....
S: When you're kissin' your hunny, and your nose is runny, and you think it's funny, but it's-snot...

While texting my baby sister, the queen of puns...
KT: "Pew pew pew" -church interior designer
Me: Bahahahahahahahahh that's awesome!!!
KT: Thank you, thank you
Me: Oh mylanta, I'm still laughing. It's a shame I didn't get it right away.
KT: I know, it takes a couple tries

(This is the perfect image to describe my baby sister and her puns.)

While listening to some epic music...
A: So this is dubstep? I like it.
H: It's like the only new thing in music for the last five years.
A: Well... but what kind of music are we talking about? Because in the classical world, they're still coming up with kooky things...
H: Well, in popular music the only new things have been dubstep, and the slight blending of country and pop.
A: ...Thanks, Taylor Swift.

While texting my little sister:
Meema: Remember my goal to be tan, ripped, and super attractive?
Me: Um, yes. That one was hard to forget ;)
Meema: I might have to settle for a farmer's tan, ripped, and up to the beholder.

Proverbs 6:12-13
"A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
"He winketh with his eyes..."
H: So God doesn't like smizing...

Best fortune cookie ever:
"Failure is feedback. And feedback is the breakfast of champions."

Daddy's Day For a New Daddy

No, Gummy Bear isn't here yet. But (s)he exists, so it counts! Happy Fathers Day to Husband Man!

I got him the best gift ever. A tie!!

But not just any tie...

It's a pillow tie!

You can inflate it!
I can see your jealousy through the computer. (Ok, not really. But you have to admit, it's awesome.)

When it comes to his impending fatherhood, Husband Man is all sorts of everything-- he's excited, unless he thinks about it too much, and then he's freaked out and worried and apprehensive and nervous and EVERYTHING.

We went to a birthing class last Saturday, a one-day class 8 hours long that went through the whole she-bang. We came home that night probably with deer-in-the-headlights looks. That class made it real for both of us. This is going to happen. Holy canole. How did Husband Man cope with this reality?

Preparation.

We have an entire hospital bag packed, stuffed with everything imaginable. The car seat is in the car, locked and loaded. Papers are filled out and ready to go. If I try and remove something from the hospital bag (the camera, for example) then it must go right back as soon as possible, no if's, and's, or but's. He has a list on his phone of who to contact if I go into labor, with everyone from parents to the guy in charge of music for church (so he knows I can't play organ on Sunday).

Husband Man's prediction is that Gummy Bear will come on the 20th. This Thursday. There's a lull in his homework this week, which would really make it the perfect time for Gummy Bear to make an entrance. So it really depends on whether Gummy Bear wants to be nice, or wants to be mean to his/her daddy.

Also in our near future is a new desktop computer. Husband Man has been talking about it for a while, since my laptop could drop dead at any time. (I'm convinced it will never die, just to spite me.) With the lull in his homework, however, he's been researching parts and comparing prices and getting advice from other tech people. So he found some of the parts on sale, and ordered everything we need. He's like a kid in a candy store, and is very, very very very VERY excited to put it together! I love him, he's so much fun to watch!

I'm very excited to see Husband Man as a daddy. I think he's going to be a fantastic dad, and I can't wait to see him interact with a mini Yockey. Happy Father's Day, Husband Man!