The 3 and 1/2 Year Old

Isaac. The crazy boy is growing up on us!

Yesterday he had his annual check with the pediatrician. Weight 32 lbs, hight 39 inches. Each around the 50th percentile--so just where 3 and 1/2 year old should be...  

He still loves his blanket. Don't mess with it or you'll get this look:

He brings such a fun energy to the house! His imagination always runs wild--today we played "doctor" and got shots (I think to mirror what we did yesterday). He is into money, and loves to pass out imaginary pennies to everyone in the household. Collecting sticks, toothbrushes, ink pens, kitchen supplies and lining them up are a favorite pastime. Oh, and he loves to paint with watercolors! Black seems to be the color he prefers.  

And then this little dude. 

Yesterday Matt and I had the boys in our bed to play and have some family time. Eli sits between our heads (which are laying on pillows) and grabs both of our noses--and laughs hysterically! 

Annual Training, AH!

The past two weeks Matt has been having lots and lots of "man time." It is his Annual Training time with the National Guard. So for the first 8 days (away from us!) he ate MREs, camped out in tents or Hum Vs (military vehicles), and had hardly any sleep... all during a crazy Boise cold front! Snow, wind, sleet, and more rain. Pretty much horrible May weather. 

  

These four did a lot of work together, and obviously bonded! 

They say they are in their "Ninja Suits."

(This was their tent. Notice, if you can, no bottom to the tent, which = COLD nights and mice infestations)

After having two hours of fitful sleep in a Hum V, Matt woke up to this:

(He was the Pit Boss, and had to insure everything on the gunnery ranges ran smoothly.)

Can you tell he had hardly any rest? 

Matt is home now, and is on his last day. Then back to his "boring" clerk job with the US Census on Monday. We are so glad he is home! He completes us. 

Poem of the Month

(FYI: Every month I pick a poem to share in a post. Keeps my mind working and is fun to see what others think.)

......................

First, I want to say that I am not looking for pity. Second, I think this sonnet is wonderful and funny. And third, I am so glad I am loved by my Honey! 

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun (Sonnet 130)

by William Shakespeare 

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grown on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks.

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.

      And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

      As any she belied with false compare.

.........................

Did you laugh? I did. I personally love this sonnet. Makes me think: "If Matt wrote a love poem, would this be the kind I would want?" I used to think yes. But now things have changed, because to me, this is how I think Matt sees me. So it's more of a love/hate relationship I now have with it! 

I am realizing that I am vain. What has brought this revelation? This pregnancy. It has not been nice to me--lots of skin problems which I am trying to resolve. If I put makeup on or blow dry my hair, it's a miracle of miracles! Any "runner's body" that I had last summer is long gone. And my long hair is no more... I like the short look, but I miss my long hair--makes me feel young.

So, Matt, if you could hold off on writing that love poem for another 2 months, that would be great! Give me time to get myself together after the birth/pregnancy, so that way if you add a line about beauty I might actually take it seriously!

What kind of love poem would you want? One filled with your beauty? One about your intelligence? Humor? Grace? It's something to think about anyway... 

Named.

It is getting pretty close. This baby is due in t-minus 7 weeks. Do we have a name? Yes! Finally, I can say yes. He shall be known as:

Titus

One may wonder, "Is this a Bible name?" Yes, yes it is. New Testament this time. Click HERE to learn more about Paul's missionary companion Titus. 

It took a lot of effort to get this name. What goes well with an Isaac and Eli? Well we couldn't pick Brad or George or Robert... something like that just wouldn't work. And we didn't mean to name both of our boys with Old Testament names, they're just the ones we liked. 

I have never kept our babies names secret, usually we have it picked out by the 20 week ultrasound. These were the names we were thinking about around that time: Mason, Gabriel, Ezra, Jude

Nothing really seemed to fit. Then Matt and I were watching a show and the name Titus came up. And we loved it! It's Biblical, it sounds good, and it's strong! 

Cause he is going to need to be strong to join this group:

Once Titus finds his feet, I think Matt is going to have his hands full... 

My Laundry Find

Lost: My brain

Found: Clothes hanger

I washed and dried a clothes hanger.

.........................

My brain, when I'm expecting, is not something to count on and is often times fuzzy. Wouldn't you think I'd ask: "Hmm, I wonder why the washer and dryer sound so loud this load?" It's okay to laugh, cause I sure enough did! 

Life, Easier Everyday

This is Isaac: 

This is Isaac shooting hoops:

Isaac's love of shooting hoops has greatly increased the past week. His aim is better, he is perfecting his jump shot, and is even working on a "lay up." (It's more like running at the goal and shooting before smashing into the post.)

This is Eli:

This is Eli drinking with a straw:

This past week Eli discovered how to drink with a straw. Which is something we have been working on for a while. Man, what a talent to have! Now we no longer worry (too much) about what we need to pack in the diaper bag. If the bottle is forgotten, no problem! He can drink out of a cup.

Life, it gets easier everyday! 

Correction + Some

Just wanted to correct an error in the post: Matt's Mission 

• He served from 2002 to 2004
  

Also wanted to mention 

• It is 6 years this month that Matt was called off his mission to do a deployment to Iraq 
  

Why do I forget these things when writing/positing?! 

And... 

• The oil spill in the Gulf really, really makes me sad. The Alabama and Florida panhandle beaches are my favorite! I'm sad for wild life, environments, ecosystems, and businesses of course. But this spill is ruining my daydream of a beach vacation! 
• I'm finally catching up on all the laundry! So happy. 
• I think I'm going to start rereading The Chosen. Great novel.
• Our living room is currently a mini basketball court. Pretty fun to watch these boys (with Matt as the coach) play together. It is more like basketball-wrestling-tag team-furniture hopping, soon to catch on in the major population I'm sure.  

That's all I have folks! Enjoy your week.

Matt's Mission

When Eli naps Isaac and I have lots of time together. Sometimes we read, sometimes we learn about money or letters or numbers, and other times--our favorite times--we sit and look through photos. 

Matt has recently scanned in around 100 photos from his mission (only making about 1/3 of the photos). Isaac and I really enjoy looking through them. 

Background info: Matt served a LDS mission to the Alabama Birmingham Mission 2003 thru 2004. He served in most of the "major" cities: Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville. Other places included Decatur, Tuskegee, and Columbiana. 

LDS missions are typically 2 years, but Matt served 18 months BECAUSE he was called off his mission to do a tour with the Idaho Army National Guard to Iraq for 18 months. 

He LOVED his mission, and was very dedicated. How do I know this? Well... um... that's how we met, you see. I'm from Alabama, LDS, and Matt served in our area. Really no shame. I grew up around missionaries, so he was just another guy to befriend. But me and my family took notice of him because of his quite, dedicated, attitude. He was simply very impressive. 

Matt worked hard, knew why he was out there, and loved the people. 

So enjoy the photos, and enter the world of a 20 year old learning a new culture and preaching the gospel... 

 

Missionary Training Center (MTC) Provo, Utah 

Matt and his two close buddies pointing to where they're going. 

Tornado Shelter 

Matt's first experience with Alabama server weather. 

They saw around 5 tornado tunnels form.

Antagonizing a "killer dog"

Road kill: Armadillo 

Tuskegee University

I believe this is the first black college. Very cool place. Lots of history here. Learn more here.

Kudzu, "The Vine that Ate the South."

It is every where, and is absolutely crazy. Learn more here.

The college football rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is insane. 

I love this photo. 

Matt and his companion out looking for someone to hear the Good Word.

Sign on the interstate highway.

This isn't too far away from my house, actually. 

Matt's favorite church marquee message:

An absolutely insane rain storm

A soda pop wall.

Because they could, so they did... 579 cans of pop. 

A Cross Garden

Some crazy guy's outlet with his obsession with Jesus, Hell, and Sinners. 

Christmas 2003

Matt and his companion spent Christmas morning with us. 

Game of RISK commenced. 

A friendly game of homemade PIT out of Uno cards

(One needs about 5 decks of Uno cards to make the PIT game. It's easier just to buy the game, believe me.)

Matt biked well over 3,000 miles.

Matt and his two trainees.

Matt flew down a hill, on his bike, at night. And crashed. Twice. 

NASA Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL

Flat tire.  The nail went completely through the rim too.  

Matt and fellow missionary (MTC buddy) holding actual assault rifles. 2nd amendment, baby! 

This is the guy that took Matt to Metallica last December. Click here.

One of 44 original 1611 King James Version of the Bible.  Pretty amazing.

P-day.  Matt seeing if he can still play the drums.

Matt stopping in on one of his district leaders district meetings.

It has been a lot of fun going through all of these photos. It is kinda weird to see Matt with hair! And maybe you got a look into what living in Alabama is like. Maybe that explains ME :) 

I am so thankful for Matt's service. All that he learned, did, and gained has been such a blessing for our small little family. 

30 Week Update

I am 30 weeks. 10 to go. I am starting to get to that point where the stress of the body is making me really, really tired. Hum... and I wonder if these silly boys have anything to do with that? 

I am also still dealing with morning sickness. It isn't every day, but most days. Typically just in the morning, but sometimes goes into early afternoon. So I "pig out" around dinner. Chinese food is the best! Thank goodness Boise has a Panda Express, or I don't know what Matt would do. Anyway, I dealt with morning sickness like this with Isaac and Eli. But during those two pregnancy my sickness was WAY worse in the beginning. This time just mild and constant. 

Do I not look that big? Well, I feel huge! Stretch marks are coming in fast and furious. Ouch! To be honest I haven't gained much weight, which surprises me. This pregnancy I am able to eat so much more--and I crave sugar, lots of it. But I am trying to control that part. I don't have gestational diabetes, but still, I need to be careful. 

Also, I have hardly any clothes to wear. With Isaac I had a neighbor who lent me tons of beautiful maternity clothes... and I was tiny! (Only gained 8 lbs with Isaac.) All the clothes with Eli are winter, because when living in Rexburg one needs winter clothes till April! I like to wear Matt's shirts and pj bottoms. White trash, I know, I know. 

This is my daily reality: 

"I'm sorry, I cannot pick you up. I can't even reach you!"

Let's review: Isaac and Eli are 2 years and 7 months apart. Eli and this baby will be almost 15 months apart. So Isaac and this baby will be 3 years and 10 months apart. Crazy, I know. 

Hopefully all will be best of friends! And hopefully I can come through this with my sanity, and maybe sometime in the future a breast lift...