Halloween 2013

Jay had to work today- bummer I know...but...they got to dress up and turns out the winner gets $100.
Of course we had to think of something good, and fast. I remembered a wig I had from a couple years ago that I never wore....

Then *Brilliant Idea*:

Jay will be the guy from the Dove for Men commercial.
Just watch:

So we put the wig on and the costume was simple: a white shirt and tie? But the thing he needed was the song playing so he could be looking down and right when someone comes up, whip his head up and wave his hair around to the music from this commercial. We have a little hand tape recorder that worked perfect. Then we did buy the dove shampoo so people could make the connection.

Here is the finished product:

So great. And Jay's personality can totally be this goofy- it worked so perfectly.
I guess we find out tomorrow if he wins! I think he should! I mean I can't stop laughing.
Okay here's a video because I really can't stop laughing about this- you have to see him in motion:
Oh yah, my video thing doesn't work- okay I promise I'll put it on when I get a chance- you are going to DIE.

Little Grant and I got to hang out with Sushila and Srijan. We walked to the mall. Then walked to a grocery store that was having a little party thing then back home. The mall was fun and Grant did great putting the treats in his bag. There were soooo many kids there! But what a great idea for little ones! I like that it was warm and well-lit and in public. Great idea.

The mall has a cute play area that we stopped at after trick-or-treating.

 After the mall, it was 4:50 and the event at the grocery store nearby was supposed to be over by 5- we got there at 5:15 when everyone was closing up their stations and were able to get handfuls of candy because they were done and still got to go through the haunted house! I'm glad we made it!
Then back to Sushila's house to play cars with Ramsy and Sushila said she would feed us! I was so grateful because I was so tired by that time and had no idea what I would make for dinner!

"Smile for me Grant!" Cute huh?

And a random shot of him in a mask. I was surprised he wanted it on.

Oh did I dress up?

Well.....yah!
 I pretended I was a non-tired pregnant mom that wanted to walk in the cold miles and miles (Jay takes the car at 2 so we got to walk) to go trick-or-treating! (It wasn't that bad- I really do need to exercise!)

I mean I blow-dried my hair! Oh and like my pumpkin I made at pinterest night?

My feet hurt.
Sushila made us momos for dinner. Everything is good when you have momos. Overall a great Halloween memory.

Demanding- 17 Month Old Kid

He's always in action these days- therefore I now shoot using the "action" setting on the camera- with poor lighting...it doesn't make the best pictures but you can still see his cuteness and that's what matters.

I know, does that face really look demanding to you? Well don't be deceived because this word, "demanding" is a perfect way to describe the little bugger  cutie these days.

He has a favorite song.  It's a good one. From the Prince of Egypt. He fondly calls it "Eye die dee die".

We borrowed the soundtrack from my mother-in-law and since that day (what going on 3 weeks now) we have listened to track number 7 non-stop.

Am I kind of maybe sort of sick of it by now? Well, not as much as you might think. I actually really do like the song and it's funny because the lyrics always actually make me really think different things about my life and thoughts such as, "I need to look at my life through heaven's eyes". Plus, we get to dance like crazy lunatics to the lai la lai lai lee lai lai part which is always a blast- and a workout! Bonus!

Here are the lyrics for those of you who don't know the song:

A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design. And the stone that sits up on the very top of the mountain's mighty face, does it think it's more important than the stones that forms the base? So how can you see what your life is worth or where your value lies?  You can never see through the eyes of man. You must look at your life, look at your life through heaven's eyes.

lai-la-lai lai lee lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai la lee lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai.

A lake of gold in the desert sand is less than a cool fresh spring. And to one lost sheep, a sheperd boy is greater than the richest king. Should a man lose everything he owns has he truly lost his worth or is it the beginning of a new and brighter birth? So how do you measure the worth of a man in wealth or strength or size? In how much he gained or how much he gave? The answer will come, the answer will come him who tries to look at his life through heaven's eyes.

And that's why we share all we have with you though there's little to be found. When all you've got is nothing there's lots to go around. No life can escape being blown about by the winds of change and chance and though you never know all the steps: you must learn to join the dance. You must learn to join the dance!

lai-la-lai-la-lai lai lee lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai la lee lai lai, lai lai lai lai lai lai.

So how do you judge what a man is worth? By what he builds or buys? You can never see with your eyes on earth.  Look through Heaven's eyes, look at your life. Look at your life. Look at your life through Heaven's eyes!

I should have it memorized by now by I always get the different parts confused. So yes, this is the song we have been living our lives to every day for almost the past month. Oh and did I mention I am not allowed to sing anything else to rock him to sleep with? He requests "Eye die dee die" every time. Sometimes he wants the "hush now my baby" part from "Deliver Us" of that same soundtrack but then right after I start singing it he emphatically says "EYE DIE DEE DIE!" and he gets more and more worked up if I don't switch over right away.

Another funny note about his demands and this song: the last two days he says, "Eye die dee die" and once I start singing the words, he goes "Hmmm....hmmm..." because he wants me to hum it instead of sing the words.

He doesn't use English to let me know his desires, but he sure can communicate what he wants.

20 Weeks of Pregnancy- 1/2 WAY!!!

How far along: 20 weeks

Total weight gain: ?

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: Yep- but I keep using coconut oil and they are looking good

Sleep: okay

Best moment of this week: Knowing that we are 1/2 way there! That is pretty exciting

Miss anything: Yah- I miss Grant being "the" baby- I know he is older and I'm having to get used to calling him a "big boy" now with the new one coming- The only time I really call him baby now is when we are undressing him for a bath and I scream "Naked baby!" He copies me and says, "Baby!!!!"

Movement: Yes- she (I'm just playing I don't know but I call the new one a she and he sometimes to see if my motherly intuition kicks in.......eh...nothing) kicks when I eat fruit and cold milk. Usually at night is when she gets really moving.

Food cravings: I just crave cereal! I wish it was something exciting but hopefully that means that I'm getting what I need.

Anything making you queasy or sick: nah

Gender: I'm guessing girl this week.

Belly button in or out: The top of the belly button is starting to pop!!! Ah!!! It's like those turkey poppers that tell you when it's ready- it's only halfway right now- so perfect for being 1/2 through the pregnancy!

Wedding rings on or off: on

Exercise and preparation for birth: I walk with G- the weather has been nice and I've done 1 day of prenatal yoga! It is so challenging to make time for that right now- I kind of have fallen into a routine that just doesn't include that so I'm trying to figure out when to make it a part of the day. I think I'm going to try mornings because night isn't working. Oh and finished Ina May's guide to childbirth= loved it! So loved it. Go read it okay?

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy.

Looking forward to: Dentist appointment on Thursday....well I don't know if I'm looking forward to it but it's happening and I'll be glad it's over;)

Friends and Prayers- Sushila and Grandma Marbles

When I moved into our apartment building, I had a vision.
There would be 50 moms exactly like me, same age with same aged kids running around.
I knew we would all meet together in the shared yard area and do finger painting and talk about motherhood.
And my new best friend would live right next door to me. We would knock and drop our kid(s) off to each other on a whim, knowing the other would return the favor when we needed it.

*Sound when a record scratches*

Yah- not my reality at all. There are no children playing outside- only the next door neighbor's kids who I might have to tell you all about here pretty soon. Do people even live in those other apartments? It's like a ghost town most of the time..."where is everyone..." is a thought that frequents through my mind as I look around at the closed blinds and quiet apartments.

What has happened instead is a woman in my new ward put on the relief society announcements that she had extra grapes (did I tell you that Grant is a grape addict? Well, he is..."papes" are his favvvorite) so of course I called her up and went on over. We stayed for hours. She had this cute little marble run that G just couldn't get enough of so we stayed. I chatted with Grandma Marbles- yes this is what she calls herself- and G just played over and over again. Did I mention she is 93 years old?!!! She's got some bounce in her step though and is so cute. She calls me the next week and says she was just so glad we came by and to come and give her a hug at church and come visit again.

Then, one day at an area social Jay and I met a couple from Nepal. The husband Ramsy is doing his doctorates and his wife and son had just moved here to be with him. The little boy Srijan knows English from school but his mom, Sushila is just barely learning. We agreed it would be a great idea for her to come over and practice her new language with me since we both are at home during the day. I actually didn't really think she would come because we couldn't communicate at all- it was all planned through her husband and mine. But
*knock knock*
She came.

We couldn't talk at all...I mean what do I do?
We sat there awkwardly for a minute but I realized very quickly that really, she couldn't speak.
She would smile and laugh shyly because she was embarrassed that we couldn't communicate.
*Idea*

I got out a cookbook and we went through to see what she knew and cooked with- what she is familiar with. That was the best idea ever- pretty soon we were nodding and laughing and smiling about the yummy food in this book and she was learning some English words! It was fun and she said she would come back again.

We've pretty much hung out every other day since that day. We grocery shop and go to the park and Grant lovvvvves her. He calls her "La la" and talks about her frequently when we are not with her and her little boy.

Can I just say that I am blown away by this lady? Yes, she may not know perfect English but she is learning and takes everything so positively and laughs so easily. I am realizing that English is a way we communicate but there is so much more- so much more to communicating than just knowing the words to say. I've learned that through my son but I have also been shown this through this little Nepali woman. She has so much love and good energy and joy for life. She has become my best friend in this short time.

I never in a million years imagined a 93 year old woman and a Nepali lady who doesn't know English to be my best friends but they are. And they are rich in life and love and I enjoy them immensely.

I am surprised because when you move to a new place- it's scary! You leave everything and everyone you know to a new town where you don't know a soul so I have offered many prayers that I can make some good friends- that I can be a good friend and figure out how I can serve the people around me. That is a new prayer for me: that I can serve those around me.  I just imagined the answer to my prayer being so different but this is the coolest thing because not only do I have an amazing friend who feeds me and teaches me how to make good, healthy food and loves Grant, but who I am able to serve too: I get to help her learn english! I never thought that would be a way I could help someone but I think it really is helping her and her husband has told me that before she met me, he would try to teach her but she didn't really care too much but now that we've met she's really excited to learn! That made me feel really good. And Grandma Marbles I know just loves having people over and having a cute little kid play her marble game. And she has offered me something too: she made me see that I can make a difference in someone's life. That it makes a difference to her day if I come and give her a hug.

I am so grateful and Heavenly Father answers our prayers....just really it can be in such unexpected ways.

A Beautiful Fall Hike

Fall Break means we get to see dad more! I have had the chance to see our Nepali friends everyday and tell Jay all about them. We always lament he isn't there to enjoy dinner or walks that we go on together. So I was ecstatic we could finally all go out together and he could get to know them a little better. 

I think Jay was excited too!

Isn't he smashing in his fall attire.

Favorite way to walk: holding onto my hand and Sushila's.

So much for a cute family photo.

We got to meet some dogs on our hike. Grant told them to "stay" with much authority.

It was so cold- poor Sushila had only a thin jacket- next time we will be better prepared. We found some beautiful leaves along the way.

The guys- minus Srijan.

Finally Srijan said okay for a "guys" photo but by that time Grant was done and has wandered away.

What a beautiful (kind of coldish) hike! We are looking forward to other hikes up these trails now and more time with this wonderful family.

*Note to self: please change the date on the camera- really? 2008? Come on.

19 Weeks of Pregnancy

How far along: 19 Weeks

Total weight gain: ? No scale...hope the doctor's appointment isn't too big of a surprise.

Maternity clothes: Yes.

Stretch marks: Okay, last time I mentioned I had them EVERYWHERE on my belly... Can I just say coconut oil is AMAZING! AMAZING! Did you get that? They have all but disappeared! I can still see a couple faded marks from where I was stretching but it has made all the difference in the world. I just stalked up at Costco with 2 big gallon containers of the stuff. I use it for everything now.

Sleep: Eh- it's fine. The transition for Grant to sleep in his own bed has been really slooow. His little mattress is next to our bed and he'll sleep there...sometimes...I always put him down for nap in his bed but bedtime he still wakes up and wants to cuddle and nurse. I think we might take away night nursing pretty soon...he's almost done teething so the plan is to have Jay get him some water and tell him he can have "mama milk" in the morning. This is plan A. Coming into effect...soon....

Best moment of this week: I got to feel my little angel kick against my hand this week. He/she is getting so strong and I think Jay will be able to feel soon.

Miss anything: Clothes that are cute and fit right and are functional. Seriously try shopping for a shirt that fits a pregnant belly, allows easy access for nursing, is modest, and cute! It's kind of tough. Oh and they don't carry maternity nursing garments...that would have been nice. Oh well.

Movement: So much! It's funny though because I'm so distracted with life in this pregnancy that the kicks catch me off guard and I almost get annoyed, like, "What is that?! Oh...yah...the baby...Yay!!"

Food cravings: Cereal. I'm so bummed because I know it's not the best food for my candida diet (did I mention I have that? Yah, it's not very fun...and Jay has it too so we have to seriously change what we are eating).

Anything making you queasy or sick: Randomly I will get nauseous and I think it's when I go too long without eating something. Snacks are a must now.

Have you started to show yet: I might just delete this question...really? Really.

Gender: Human.

Labor signs: Today we went for a hike up the canyon to collect leaves with our friends from Nepal and I was feeling it. Those muscles in the belly start cramping up or stretching or something.

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Exercise and preparation for birth: Exercise? Eh...does chasing Grant around count? It's a workout I tell you. Then we still try to go for walks when the weather is good enough and a hike today- it was beautiful. I love being able to walk around in nature- especially now with all the leaves changing.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy:)

Looking forward to: Eating healthier! We have found some great spices and recipe ideas (from Sushila) that will help with our candida and be delicious. I'm excited to incorporate more veggies and beans in my diet. Get some healthy protein for the babe and kick candida in the butt? Awesome plan.

Funky Toenails & Other Tidbits About The Little Boy

I have to write about this. I really must remember this when my little boy is grown- I don't know it's just so weird. Like I think my kid is perfect, I really do- except for one little thing.

Looks:

He really is perfect from head to toe....but it stops right at the toe until it reaches the nail and then something happens.

About halfway to the tip of the toenail, it starts curving upward and out.
This results in the WEIRDEST toenails you will ever behold.
No kidding.
They are sharp and jagged and stick straight out because of so mentioned curve.
I try to clip them so they aren't deadly but I can only clip to the edge of the white and the curve starts much further in than that.

I'm so glad his fingernails don't do this.


Okay- got that recorded- moving on to cute things;)

Marshmallow Hair:
Jay describes his hair has "perfectly golden-brown roasted marshmallow hair" and it really is. Most of it is this beautiful golden brown color- I actually really like it- I thought I would want his hair to stay dark with his dark eyes and skin but he is beautiful with this mallow hair. He's still got some random patches of his former dark hair on the sides of his head above his ears and on his forehead which looks kind of ombre right...

Walk:

Seriously cracks me up every time. I don't know when he started doing this...maybe a week ago now?...
So when he's serious about going and doing something he keeps his right arm tucked straight by his side and swings the left back and forth vigorously as he struts to whatever has caught his eye.
It. Is. Adorable.
I got a tiny glimpse on camera..stay tuned for when I finally figure out what's going on with my youtube and why it isn't working! Argh!
I have to wonder if he's going to be lopsided doing this but it sure is darn cute.



Talk:

Where did this kid come from? He wants to talk now. Every day he wakes up and gibbers away. Then, he is enthralled with pronouncing words. We can sit there for a whole minute just practicing a word. He looks at my lips as I speak the word, then repeats...a lot of the time it sounds kind of similar too.

It's cute though because he will start words with a letter that is in the middle of the word so "grapes" is "papes". That's the only one I can think of right now. Peaches and blueberries sound like "babies" but he is doing really well with words like "soup" and "rice" he says "sue" and "rye".

He says "thank you" now and tries to say pretty much anything else you ask him to try. So crazy he's really going to be talking.

Eating:

Well, he has been extremely picky and won't eat dinner which has caused some grief (waking up at 3 in the morning to feed him some toast and applesauce).
I have a success story though: he ate leek, zucchini, white bean and noodle soup! Yes, he would only touch the zucchini- which he loves apparently (I think cause it's soft) but then I blended everything else up and he ate-no kidding- almost 2 measuring cups worth tonight. HOLY MACARONI. I think he eats more than I do sometimes. And I'm pregnant....he must really be going through a growth spurt or something.

Oh and he LOVES green smoothies! I'll post a couple of my favorites here soon.

He really is a little boy now and it's really a very fun thing having a little boy running around. I am so blessed.

Cassy is Leaving!

Time has been sneaking on by and Cassy is leaving for Tuxla jfda asdkjfa;woei f;owa (I have no idea how to pronounce it but I know it's by Guatemala!) Mexico mission so soon. (Um...this week!)

I really wanted to spend some time with her before she leaves and was so excited to hear she could come up and stay for a Friday and Saturday sleepover party. Of course Bethany and Ward came up with her to join in the fun!

Friday night was eh...I won't go into detail because this post is about the fun part of the visit. Let's just say G refused to nap Friday which was a very....different experience for me. (Crankiest kid EVER). So I was glad when everyone finally went to sleep and we could sleep off the day.

Saturday ended up being so fun though. Pumpkin pancakes, shopping and caramel apples.

Shopping was good as we were able to cross off a bunch of items from Cassy's list of things she has been needing to buy for her mission.

I think Grant had the best time ever- a constant buddy all day to laugh with him and chase him and whew it was fun.  He cried his little eye balls out when they left.  They all got such cute videos of Grant and I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of them with him- we were just having too much fun I guess.

Then we made caramel apples and just laughed and had a good time. The caramel was PERFECT this time- hard enough hard to stick to the apples and soft enough to bite into. I love this tradition. Of course we had to try a pinterest idea of scooping the middle part out and having inside-out-caramel apples. Like this:

Image taken from: http://www.cupofsugarpinchofsalt.com/2012/11/10/inside-out-caramel-apple-slices/

 Luckily we only tried that with one because this is what happened:

Well, they still tasted good! It was fun.

I wish they could come down every weekend and play with us.

Cass, we sure will miss you but you are going to be sharing something so awesome with people- something that could change their lives forever! We are so blessed to know about a loving Heavenly Father and our Savior who made true joy and happiness possible! What a great thing! You will be amazing!

Making MoMo's from Nepal

Have I told you about our Nepali friends? 

Ramsy was here for 2 years doing school and finally got a scholarship so he could afford to bring his wife and son out here while he finishes his doctorates.  They are so excited to see the snow.

Sushila- I finally remember her name because Jay finally said he remembers using "sushi"...oh...so easy now. She is just barely learning English.

Srijan is their little boy and he is 10. He knows English really well because of school.

Sushila has been coming over for the last month and practicing English with me. I am surprised at how well I know her now with so little communication but I feel I really do know her and her heart and she is the most wonderful human being.

So one day she surpises me with this dish called "mo mo's" because I had asked her about her food from Nepal and what it tastes like.

Okay this is the BEST dish in the entire world. 

 I JUST HAD to know how a human being could make something so divine.  

She told me in broken English that she could teach me if I come over to her home. She warned me it takes a long time to make....No problem- it will be worth it of course! I must know.

We started at 2 o'clock 

chopping, 

chopping, 

chopping 

and making the dough and tomato achar (the dipping sauce that's like a soup) from scratch. Mixing and seasoning and then finally cooking (steaming). 

We were finally eating around 6:15 and I took the kid home around 7pm to go to sleep while she kept cooking. 

She makes everything from scratch and the flavor is so....is there even a word? 

So....MWAH! 

Yes, I cannot describe it, it just is incredible and I would eat mo mo's everyday. I think when you eat them your body doesn't tell you when you are full because your taste buds send a message that they will shoot the "full receptors" in the belly if they dare interrupt such perfect dancing in the mouth. It is a party for the taste buds and really I don't know when I am full because they just are so darn good. 

So Sushila doesn't follow a recipe, she just knows how to make them so I took notes and I will write it down once I try it at least once to see if I got it right. 

We had some fun through the hard work and I enjoy these people so much. I will tell you all about them. They are so humble and good and full of love and have nothing yet everything to give. They are so happy.  I wish you could meet them, I know you would be better for it.

Srijan told Grant to say, "Cheese!" Good one huh? Except Jay just said this looks like a missing child photo...I don't know if I like it as much now...

Chopping on the floor. They don't have a table or chairs.

I had to convince her that her smile was great with her braces- so finally! So beautiful! Isn't her smile so full of love? You can just see it.

He calls her "mama" which I think just means he trusts her to take care of him. I know he can't say Sushila so we now call her "La la". 

Srijan is 10 and the happiest, cutest boy. We've adopted him as Grant's big brother.

Grant wouldn't smile for me, even when I said "Say cheese!" nope. nothing.

Last attempt to get a smile. Oh well.

Week 18 of Pregnancy

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain: I don't know how to answer this. I lost 5 lbs during 1st trimester and now I have gained 10 meaning I have gained 5 from my original weight. I'll just answer from original weight because that sounds better to me.

Maternity clothes: Oh yes. I think I started wearing them at 13 weeks. I still wear normal jeans with the rubber band but pregnancy shirts are a must now. My belly is big already.

Stretch marks: Hello. Okay last pregnancy none, the entire time- ENTIRE pregnancy then I got stretch marks from my milk coming in- that was unexpected. This pregnancy I have stretch marks all over my belly! Everywhere!!! Ha- I thought I was one of those lucky ones that just never got them- wrong. I am more surprised than disappointed though- just wasn't expecting it.

Sleep:  I am super tired lately. Like I just run out of energy. Boom, done randomly during the day. I am lucky I get to still nap when my toddler naps- phew.

Best moment of this week: Feeling tons of movement all the time. Now I know for sure that's a baby in there- a strong little tike.

Miss anything: I really do miss sleeping through the night without having to get up out of bed to pee. 

Movement: Tons!!!! I really have had a hard time knowing up until this point- which was interesting because I've heard most women can feel sooner and with G I was sure at 16 weeks. So I guess I had to wait a couple more weeks but I am so happy to feel this one now- it makes it all so real- like this little person is coming *kick* get ready for me mom!

Food cravings: I crave citrus stuff- oranges, grapefruit but also cereal. I just love cereal so much- I love rice squares with whole milk. I don't know it just is so calming to me.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Sometimes G's diapers are a little much and old food from the fridge. But it's not bad at all. I can handle it! I love 2nd trimester!

Have you started to show yet: You mean did I ever not show with this pregnancy? I'm not sure. I think I am showing a ton more than with the first- I just can't believe how different it has been.

Gender: SURPRISE! Yes, we have decided to keep the gender a surprise and while it was a tough decision at first, I am enjoying every minute of not knowing- it's exciting! Plus, I've realized that people will ask you what you are having and then forget later. I mean it's so exciting to be having a baby so that isn't diminished at all- that's all still there and now there is just little mystery in the mix of excitement. I'm also really hoping it will help during labor...I guess we'll see about that one.

Belly button in or out: It's in still- it's halfway on it's way to being out though.

Wedding rings on or off: On- I think the cold weather makes that possible.

Exercise and preparation for birth: I'm reading Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth and would recommend this book again and again. It's so wonderful to hear these amazing stories and how the body really doesn't function during labor if the mother is afraid or uncomfortable- I just read a chapter about sphincters- a midwife has a class of couples and holds out a $50 bill and places a metal bowl  in the middle of the circle of couples and says the first man to pee in the bowl in front of everyone can have the bill.  She still hasn't had anyone get the $50. It just makes a point that really, our body and mind operate together and you need to be comfortable with whoever is present to allow your body (and the sphincters) what it needs to do during labor. 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy;) 

Looking forward to: Meeting with my midwife. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to afford it this time but with Jay's new job the midwife is willing to work a deal with us so I might get my dream water birth after all! Ah! So excited.

Beckham's Battle

Hi friends,

http://beckhamsbattle.blogspot.com/2013/10/beckham-battle-bracelets.html

www.etsy.com/shop/beckhamsbattle

My husband's cousin has the sweetest, cutest little boy, Beckham. He was diagnosed with cancer. I would love to see his cute smile at family gatherings for years to come- take a look at the bracelets a friend of theirs has made to help support them during this battle.

Go Beckham! You are in our hearts and prayers.