ALMOST There

9 months later, I am 9 pounds away from pre-baby weight.

Please disregard my pants tucked into my socks; I was wearing boots. 

This means I have lost at least 51 pounds, probably more because I stopped weighing myself the last few weeks of pregnancy.  

I am excited and proud (toot toot that horn!), but I'm almost more horrified that I had that much chub to lose, for I so very much brought that on myself.  And I'm still working on reaching my Zen about the fact that pregnancy is a thing that I'm not done with; I'll do this again and again over the next several years. Thank goodness the most delightsome small friends are the reasons for the jiggly-quality of a mother's body.

This week Jeff and I had a good laugh for about 10 minutes walking down memory lane, the lane of Meredith's Non-Stop Pregnancy Eating.  I really thought I wasn't that bad at the time, that this weight was just mysteriously accumulating because the Universe was out to get me, but in hindsight, I know different.  Now I remember Coney Island Footlong Hot Dogs at Sonic, entire boxes of Christmas Chocolate Covered Jo-Jos from Trader Jo's, Orange Juice by the gallon, Peanut Butter Smoothies, I could go on.  And on.

However, I have hope that next time it will be different.  (I say that like it's out of my hands completely.  Ha!)  Here's to the next 9 pounds, may they hit the road with more running and fewer treats, which is another blog post for another day.

Womp womp. 

"Somehow or other, it came just the same."

7 months after ordering our couch, voila!  It's here!

This is the fulfillment of a life-long dream of mine.  I have been sitting in heaven today.

Our family room is pretty much d-o-n-e.  The art was enthusiastically picked up from Meredith Prevot in August.  She knows what she's doing, and you can see more of her beautiful work HERE.  

Happy Hallow's Ween 2011

I brought him to Jeff's office where he was content to chew on his feet and watch other people poke at him.

When we got home he'd had enough of the whole fuzzy mess, so here is what we've got.  Please note the Chinese Water Torture about to fall off his chin -- teething has upped his faucet-like drooling to record breaking floods.  And he wouldn't take his eyes off his Dad mowing the lawn....

You should see how he dresses up to take out the garbage and get the mail.

Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night. 

Teeth

Jude's gums are being slowly assaulted by 5 teeth.  I'd post a picture of the culprits but it's all I can do to get a glimpse myself.  Naps and sleep are spotty.  His mood is way up and way down.  And I forgot this was coming and thought there would be smooth sailing for a while.

And that is all I have to say about that.

At least I'm not married to this idiot.

Bay Area Trip 2011

We hung out on campus, shopped, visited with the Campbells, Reynolds, Jacobs, Buskirks, went to San Fransisco,  went to Reunion stuff, and really, altogether, had a great time.  I love NorCal.

Eat your heart out.

I did my hair.  For reals.  I turned on the blow dryer, took my round brush in hand, and twirled.  

Ok I'm sorry to break the news to Aunts Erica, Angie, Elizabeth, and Sarah: Jude loves each of you, but he has an unprecedented twinkle for Aunt Michelle.  He L-O-V-E-D her and would practically lunge into her arms giggling.  

A dying breed found on campus.

That awesome bridge and those awesome boys

Never mind my double chin.  I love those tiny little fingers on my face.

Moments of imparted wisdom

Ghirardelli Square was a little more on the beaten path than Jeff wanted to invest time in, but I needed some chocolate, and I needed it fast.

Union Square

Jude is obsessed with facing out in the Bjorn.  He goes into high octane energy expenditure.

Crashed in the stroller

And last but not least, paying respects to my Grandparents' house in Palo Alto.  We came here last year with Jude in-tummy.  They put in solar panels; otherwise everything else seems to be the same, it still breaks my heart a little that it's not ours anymore, but que sera sera.

We are really tired, but if being tired in exchange for good family times is wrong I don't want to be right.

Reuniting

I'm here with my boys at Jeff's 5 year Law School Reunion in the crisp Palo Alto, observing the nerdy granolas, wondering what it would have been like if I'd met Jeff earlier and been here with him, eating the free food, trying to keep Jude from having an I-Don't-Sleep-Well-Ever-On-Vacation meltdown (but he's currently sleeping in the stroller and his lips are smushed and it looks so darn cute), eavesdropping on conversations about your typical nerdy things, remembering coming here a few times with my cousins when we'd visit family in them younger days, smelling the Palo Alto smell that always gets me choked up for those heavenly visits in them younger days and how my childhood is so wrapped up in this place, and sighing a lot.  And then grumbling when Jude starts shrieking like he did in months 0 to 3.

P.S. Jeff and I would go back and forth on taking Jude to Europe whenever it is that we actually go.  (I should mention we were planning a trip for our first anniversary but low and behold I became a vessel for the next generation.)  After this trip, not a chance, not if you paid me.

8 Months

8

Jude's been with us for an entire BYU academic year, and almost as long as he crisped in utero.

He jabbers from the minute I get him out of his crib in the morning to a couple of hours later when he goes down for a nap.  Nonstop jabber.  He makes us feel like a million bucks at every crib pick-up -- kicking, squealing, eating shoulders, he does everything but throw confetti.

Our baby boy pulls himself into plank position with his arms straight out hanging onto the crib bars.  We lowered it another knotch.

He is trying to clap and wants the remotes.

He also wants to crawl, but isn't quite there yet.  After he gets on all 4s and rocks back and forth a few times he either slides down to the ground or retreats back onto his bum.  Here he is his own source of frustration.  Late afternoon is the times when it all hits him just how cruel the world can be.  It's very hard that I make him wear clothes, don't let him play with those remotes, my phone, my keys, paper, my food, and the desktop keyboard.  Very hard.  Sometimes Jeff walks through the door and it's "HIHONEYWILLYOUTAKEHIMTHANKS".

Ah, but he is just such a sweet, exuberant, intensely energetic, wiggly delight.  We will never get over how wonderful he is.

Grunt/Laugh/Muscle Flex -- very intense.

Forgotten PhotoBooth Gems

The loveliest things I ever did see.

Monday Morning

I think Jude makes a big mess on his clothes just so I have to strip him down.  He loves basking in the glory of only a diaper.  But, I'm paranoid about him being cold so I made him wear a hat while I took some pictures of him admiring the fleurs that act as an Apple TV screen saver.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As of today, with the torrential downpour that lasted every inch of the day, it is officially MY season.  I love fall and winter best, and always have.  Then I went and got engaged, married, and had a baby during these two seasons.  Bonus points.  I think spring and summer are awesome, and usually appreciate the shift in seasons no matter which direction we are heading on the barometer, but you know, I just get so much more excited when the days get shorter and the world is cozier.  That plus my mellloooowwww music preference, and maybe our friend Rodney Ashton was right when he told me: "Wow, you are a dark, dark person."  Now let's break out the tinsel!

On another topic, Jude now talks in his sleep.  Two nights ago I woke up medianoche to hear "dadadada buhbuhbuhbuhbuh dada mememememememememe" and thought that was odd.  I went over to his room wondering why he wasn't screaming if he'd woken up.  Dead asleep.  Just jabbering away with his eyes closed, body totally relaxed.  He's done it once since in the middle of one of his naps.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

And a picture in parting:

From the day he was born -- I forgot about this one.

Becca & Art's Wedding

I got back late last night from one of the best weddings I've ever been to.  My cousin Becca married Art in the Salt Lake City temple, and therefore we gathered and partied!

The sealing was beautiful and made my heart beat with extra enthusiasm, the dinner the night before tasty, the reception at Sundance was breathtaking, and the bride and groom were lovey and spectacular.  And yes, they really are that good looking!

Harry was in charge of the music, and once the traditional dances were over, he changed it up from Ryan Adams, Ron Sexsmith, David Gray, and David Hopkins over to the tunes that force you to just get down.  I haven't gotten down in....a long time, and a hibernating bear was awakened!!  I handed Jude over to my mom, and my cousins, siblings, their husbands, and I shook our bums for hours.  If it's possible to have a hangover in a body that is 100% sober, that's what I had Saturday morning.  I only wished Jeff was there, but boo, he had to stay behind and bill hours.  They even played one of his favorite  songs, which shall remain nameless, I'll only tell you it rhymes with Marty in the USA. :)

I am so blessed with family.  My family, Jeff's family, I really couldn't ask for better friends and companions.  Whenever we're together, I just don't want it to end.  

Setting up for the reception and loving on my babe. 

Congrats to the Mr. and Mrs. Gutierrez couple!  I love you so much, Becc!

Jude's Drug, Plus a Nickname I Don't Use Anymore

I just discovered that if Jude is fussing for whatever reason, his angst can be soothed by the vocal stylings of moi, a la How Much is that Doggy in the Window.

If you don't know it, it goes a little like

How MUCH is that doggy in the window,
(Ruff ruff!)
The one with the waggly tail?
How MUCH is that doggy in the window,
(Ruff ruff!)
I do hope that doggy's for sale.

My mom used to sing it to us when we were taking our bath and it just started slipping out of my mouth.  No other song has ever had such a powerful effect.

My mom used to also call my brother "Buster Brown" when he was a babe.  That also started slipping out of my mouth, and then I realized I didn't know who or what Buster Brown was.  I looked it up on Wikipedia.  Freaky.  (I just asked my mom what she took it from and apparently it was a brand of shoes when she was growing up.)

The End.

The Day Whole Foods and I were Friends

I have a funky, fond amusement for Whole Foods, but I always feel a little like an intruder when I go in.   I feel certain they ALL know that I think the people shopping in certain sections are being taken for a ride because there is just no reason for ____ to cost that much.  They know I think it smells funny in there, and they're offended.  But I also have the sneaking suspicion that not everyone, but some of the flocks of liberal granolas there are aware of my conservative voting record, the amount of Diet Coke I guzzle every day, they know that I belong to a patriarchal religion, and lead a very traditional lifestyle.  And they frown on it or feel sorry for me, as I am surely sheltered, out of touch, maybe brainwashed, or a bigot.

But one day, a month or two ago, I was picking up some Fenugreek at Whole Foods by Jeff's office.  I was going to go visit him at work but Jude was hungry and I was starting to get flustered thinking of where I could feed him...

and then I slipped into a booth in the cafe section, and it was awesome because everyone that walked by was so happy for me, and we all understood each other.