Baby Countdown

Wahoo! Today I hit 36 weeks. You know the feeling when you're on a really long flight and you finally feel that first little bump as you start to descend? That's how I felt this morning when I woke up and knew I was in the final month. And you know how great it feels when the captain finally gets on the speaker and announces you are starting your final descent and the weather looks good? Well that's how I felt when my Dr. said today at my check-up that I am already at a 3cm with head down and 30% effacement! Don't expect any pictures tomorrow, but this baby is coming soon!


(Hopefully I won't regret this post when four weeks from now I am still waddling around with a very large belly.)

Celebrating Office Style

The celebration was a success! I picked up Ryan at 5pm and we went to Chili's for happy hour. He was totally confused until I revealed we would be celebrating as only the Dunder Mifflin staff would. Just click on the picture and hit sideshow in picassa. Enjoy!

From Fourth Anniversary

Four Years!

Happy Anniversary to us! April 23, 2005 started something so wonderful. I'm so grateful to be married to my best friend. I love you Ryan!!

Here's a look at our last four April 23rds....

Wedding Bliss-- don't you love wedding pictures??

Remembering our temple tags, "couple number 15" (We figure the LA temple workers didn't want us to accidentally get married to the wrong person).

Blue Bonnets in Houston

At Ruggles for lunch -- Ryan got to take the whole day off to celebrate.

And what will today hold??? I can hardly wait to find out! :) Oh wait, I'm planning our anniversary this year. Guess I'd better get to work.

Have You Ever Been in a Blog War?

Our friends the Canales recently posted something slightly embarrassing of us on their blog. In order to thank them for such kindness, I thought I'd post a funny picture of one of them...

I give you Percy, first counselor in our Bishopric,
Perhaps you can guess which one he is.

On another note, but also related to the Canales, today after Marielle ate her lunch I gave her a sugar cookie that Sarah (Percy's wife) made for a Nursery treat. I broke the large easter egg shaped cookie into smaller pieces on her plate and she inadvertently got some leftover ketchup on one of the pieces. She liked it so much, she just kept right on dipping. Now, I'm not willing to try the new flavor, but if any of you want to try ketchup on sugar cookies post a comment and let us know how you like it.

Give the Dragon a Hand

Marielle has developed a healthy fear of dragons, as those of you that have come to visit my house are well aware. About once a day, she will tell me "A dragon is coming" and then we yell and run to the closet, where we call the police on her toy phone and they promptly come to haul the vicious beast away. Then we come out and ask Mom, "Are you safe?" (She always is.)

A few weeks ago, Marielle and I were at the playground when she announced that the dragon was coming. We ran from slide to tree and then back up the stairs. At this point, I had the bright idea to hit the plastic roof of the playground and with a WHOMP told Marielle that the dragon was now on the roof. Her eyes grew wide as saucers, and we hurried down the slide. She told me all the way home and all the next day how the dragon was "at the pway gwound. I heared it."

Well, apparently I can fool a 2 year, 5 month old, but not a 2-and-a-half year old, because today at the play ground when I tried to recreate the experience. Marielle told me, "No...that was...that was your...hand. Not a dragon."

Happy Easter!

Another Good Reason to Garage Sale

About two years ago I bought this toy for $3 at a garage sale.



It's been a great toy, but kinda big so I thought I'd try to sell it. I posted it this morning for $20, and I already have a buyer scheduled to come pick it up tonight. Now that's a sweet investment.

Learning How to Leave A Message

Months ago at Ryan's Company picnic we won some dress up shoes in the kid's raffle. Since they were way too big, we stashed in the guest room closet. Well of course, Marielle found them. She was thrilled and wanted to open them right away, I stalled her by saying they were her friend Rachel's. (Rachel does infact have a pair of these shoes which she has worn over at our house before.) Marielle was fascinated by the shoes and kept repeating over and over that they were Rachel's. Mostly I think she just wanted me to open them, but I continued to stall. I tried to distract her with a phone call to dad, and you can listen to the result.

Click to Play

(Transcribed in case it's hard to hear the audio)

Marielle, "Hey Dada, These are..These are Rachel's. These are Rachel's Dad. These are Rachel's"

Mom,"Say I love you!"

Marielle, "These are Rachel's Dad! Talk!"

Mom,"It's just a message, he's not there."

Marielle, "Ohh... "

Mom, "Say I love you, bye, bye!"

Marielle, "Bye, bye."

As you can tell, she was getting frantic that Dad wasn't responding to her on the phone. Soon after that call I re-hid the shoes in another closet on a very tall shelf. I probably should have done that first thing, but then we wouldn't have such a cute message to listen to. :)