Monday, October 29, 2007
1st Counselors
Tyler and I have a really equal marriage and we like things to be EXACTLY equal. :) Just kidding, but this is a bit funny to me. Last week a member of the bishopric asked to come over and we, of course, said yes. Well, he chit-chatted for a bit and then got down to business. Right now I am serving as 1st counselor in the YW Presidency. He said that they (the bishopric) have gone around and around with Tyler's name for a certain calling. They would move onto someone else, but kept coming back to Tyler. The concern being that this calling would require us both to be in the same place at the same time often and we have Max and another babe on the way. Valid concern. However, we both felt like we would work it out and the Lord would provide a way since He is the one extending the call. So the call was extended and Tyler has been called as 1st counselor in the YM Presidency! It will, admittedly, be a little tricky. However, we have a great ward family and already had an offer from our friends to watch Max on Tuesday nights. I don't worry about it working out. I have felt like Tyler either would or should be called to work with the YM for the last few weeks. He is such a great role model and relates so well to the youth. I know that they are going to be so excited and love having him in there! Congrats on your new calling, babe!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fosters = Fun
I have been posting so much about our baby-to-be lately and have neglected to post about all of the fun things we've been doing. Let's see...
*No pictures of this, but last week Tyler had to be at a training all week long in Kent, WA. So on Wednesday night Max and I packed up and headed over to hang out with him that night and on Thursday. We had a great time; it was nice to not be away from Ty for the whole week...and to break out of our normal routine here at home. We got back on Thursday night. Then on Friday I left Max with his Tutu (his Hawaiian adopted grandma in the ward) and headed over to meet Tyler and go to the temple. It was the perfect end to our week! I love my husband and our little man. I am getting more and more excited every day for this new little person who will be joining us. She's sure an active little thing! Oh, and I also had a Dr. appt - we went over the ultrasound results and everything looks great. It's a miracle to me. I know I say this a lot, but life is really, really good.
*We took the ferry over to Seattle, this time just walking on and leaving our car behind, and went to the Seattle Aquarium. It was awesome - so much to see and cool things for little kids to do there. Then we ate at Ivar's and I had the best New England clam chowder of my life (Max dug the bread bowl). We walked all along the piers and the shops there. I love going into cool little shops like that. It was a perfect day! 
* A few Saturdays ago we decided to go looking for salmon. This time of year they are making their way upstream to lay eggs and die. I know, really pleasant. It's a natural process, though, folks, and that is beautiful. But it is cool to watch them swimming upstream against the current. Well, we decided to go along the Clear Creek Trail this year, which runs through the town where we live. Alas, no salmon to be found. But it was a beautiful day and a gorgeous walk through the trees. I can't believe it's taken us this long to walk along there - it's minutes away from our house! We decided that since we'd already gone so far we should walk over to our favorite park. It was further than it seemed. :) I think it was a four mile walk altogether, so not really that bad, just more than we'd anticipated. After that and playing at the park with Max we were pooped!
*No pictures of this, but last week Tyler had to be at a training all week long in Kent, WA. So on Wednesday night Max and I packed up and headed over to hang out with him that night and on Thursday. We had a great time; it was nice to not be away from Ty for the whole week...and to break out of our normal routine here at home. We got back on Thursday night. Then on Friday I left Max with his Tutu (his Hawaiian adopted grandma in the ward) and headed over to meet Tyler and go to the temple. It was the perfect end to our week! I love my husband and our little man. I am getting more and more excited every day for this new little person who will be joining us. She's sure an active little thing! Oh, and I also had a Dr. appt - we went over the ultrasound results and everything looks great. It's a miracle to me. I know I say this a lot, but life is really, really good.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A little more detail from the detail queen...
Tilt your head to the right, this is a great face shot. Eyes, nose, and she totally looks like she's smiling with that tiny mouth!
You know I couldn't just leave it with "It's a girl!"; I've got to give you the whole story. :)
First of all, this was my first time having an ultrasound tech do my ultrasound. I had two private practice doctors with Max (one in NY and one in WA). Both had their own machines and did their own ultrasounds. It was always really quick and I got several ultrasounds with them. I really loved that. But the doc who delivered Max retired from OB, so now I'm with a nice family practice doctor. Anyway, so I had never had to do the full bladder part of having a real in-depth ultrasound. Drink 32 ounces of fluid one hour before your appt. and DO NOT empty beforehand. I thought I was going to die! Well, not die, but it was excrutiating. She checked out my bladder and whatever else she needed to see with that first and then let me use the bathroom. Sweet relief!
It was so fun to see our little baby. I always feel like I need to talk to the screen and say hello, which I did. At one point during the ultrasound she did a huge yawn or something and we got to watch as her little mouth opened so wide and closed. It was very cute. She looks to us to be healthy! At first she wasn't very cooperative with the gender check. Legs were pretty firmly crossed. So we went on with other measurements and went back to that. Just as the tech was telling us that they were still crossed and was pointing out the legs, our cooperative little babe opened up. I've seen a lot of ultrasound pictures, not only my own, and so I stole the tech's thunder a bit, I think, when I saw the three lines and said, "That's a girl!" She said that she definitely agreed. And she says that nobody has ever come back to tell her that she's wrong. She also told us that she wouldn't say anything unless she was quite positive. Nice to hear! So we're planning for a little woman to join our family! Tyler knew it all along - he's been saying that it's a girl from the beginning. I guess he stole all of my mother's intuition because I just wasn't sure. We are so, so thrilled!
We'll keep you all posted on the name. We're pretty sure on it, but are going to give it a little time amongst ourselves. Thanks for all of the well-wishes! We can't wait to meet this new little lady; we're halfway there!
We'll keep you all posted on the name. We're pretty sure on it, but are going to give it a little time amongst ourselves. Thanks for all of the well-wishes! We can't wait to meet this new little lady; we're halfway there!
**In case you were wondering, we did take the header picture ourselves. I know, I know, we are so talented with the camera! Not sure if this was me or Ty, we both took shots like this. It's a view from our favorite park - Waterfront Park - where Max and I go a lot. When the tide is low we can head out on the "beach". We throw rocks into the water, look for little crabs and I keep Max from heading straight in. I love where we live; it is so, so beautiful!**
Friday, October 12, 2007
The polls have closed, the results are in....
Babe Foster #2 is a......GIRL!!!
(More on this later - we're goin' on a date)
(More on this later - we're goin' on a date)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Do I have to vote?
I'm here to provide a safe environment for the babe to grow and develop. My emotions and eating habits are all over the map - I need a good cry much more often than the non-pregnant version of myself and any little thing can bring tears to my eyes; I really need something sweet, just a little something - wait, salty - wait, vegetables - wait, yet another pickle - no, what I really want is a doughnut, a HOT Krispy Kreme doughnut. :) My belly is expanding so that if something drops from my mouth or fork it doesn't fall to my less-conspicuous lap, but to my belly. I realized I was to that point when I looked down after Young Women in Excellence last night to see two spots on my shirt at the top of my belly. Hopefully I acquired them after I stood up in front of all of the YW and their parents. Yep, I'm just here to provide that safe environment and let my entire world be changed. I'm just the mom. So why should I have a feeling one way or another what the gender is of this little person I am housing? Why should I be so privileged? :)
I even took this highly scientific test :) and these were my results:
Congratulations!
You have a 50% chance of having a boy. And you have a 50% chance of having a girl.
And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Girls are carried high. You are going to have a girl.
Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a boy.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You have a craving for salty or sour foods, which means that it is a boy.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving meats or cheeses, so it is a boy.
Your baby's heart rate is below 140 beats per minute, so it's a boy.
You have no desire for orange juice, so it's a boy.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a basketball, so it's a boy.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the handle of a mug, so it's a boy.
See what I mean...so scientific! :) I see that many of you have voted on what you think this babe is going to be. It's been neck-and-neck the whole time. I guess that shows exactly how I feel. I don't have a clue. I would be equally happy with either one. I would love to have a girl; a mini-me. Well, that is unless she has my childhood temperament. I want a girl-version of Ty. I want all of our kids to be a lot like their dad, actually! I would love to dress her and do her hair and just see what it's like to have a little woman around. A little friend for me. I would also love another little man. I am so in love with the one I already have! When Max was born 17 months ago I quickly became convinced that I would like a whole mess of boys, like my mother-in-law. She had 6. I know that some women have a "feeling" one way or another and sometimes I feel like I'm kind of an out-of-touch mom since I don't have that, but I just don't. I'll be waiting to see with the rest of you. Friday at 3:00 will hopefully be the "hour of truth"!
I know that I sounded sarcastic in the first paragraph, but if you had a sincere conversation with me you would know that I really, really love being pregnant. I love the way I look (most of the time). I love that I have this incredibly personal bond with this miracle who I will soon hold in my arms. I love that I get to feel the movements and by so doing get a bit of a feel for his/her personality. I love the moments when I am alone - meaning without Ty or Max or anyone else - but I am not really alone. I have this precious time to put my hand on my belly and sit in awe of this amazing process and the spirit that will be housed in a tiny, helpless body that I get to care for and raise. I feel honored to be the mother to this new tiny person - girl or boy.
I even took this highly scientific test :) and these were my results:
Congratulations!
You have a 50% chance of having a boy. And you have a 50% chance of having a girl.
And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Girls are carried high. You are going to have a girl.
Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a boy.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You have a craving for salty or sour foods, which means that it is a boy.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving meats or cheeses, so it is a boy.
Your baby's heart rate is below 140 beats per minute, so it's a boy.
You have no desire for orange juice, so it's a boy.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a basketball, so it's a boy.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the handle of a mug, so it's a boy.
See what I mean...so scientific! :) I see that many of you have voted on what you think this babe is going to be. It's been neck-and-neck the whole time. I guess that shows exactly how I feel. I don't have a clue. I would be equally happy with either one. I would love to have a girl; a mini-me. Well, that is unless she has my childhood temperament. I want a girl-version of Ty. I want all of our kids to be a lot like their dad, actually! I would love to dress her and do her hair and just see what it's like to have a little woman around. A little friend for me. I would also love another little man. I am so in love with the one I already have! When Max was born 17 months ago I quickly became convinced that I would like a whole mess of boys, like my mother-in-law. She had 6. I know that some women have a "feeling" one way or another and sometimes I feel like I'm kind of an out-of-touch mom since I don't have that, but I just don't. I'll be waiting to see with the rest of you. Friday at 3:00 will hopefully be the "hour of truth"!
I know that I sounded sarcastic in the first paragraph, but if you had a sincere conversation with me you would know that I really, really love being pregnant. I love the way I look (most of the time). I love that I have this incredibly personal bond with this miracle who I will soon hold in my arms. I love that I get to feel the movements and by so doing get a bit of a feel for his/her personality. I love the moments when I am alone - meaning without Ty or Max or anyone else - but I am not really alone. I have this precious time to put my hand on my belly and sit in awe of this amazing process and the spirit that will be housed in a tiny, helpless body that I get to care for and raise. I feel honored to be the mother to this new tiny person - girl or boy.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
I couldn't avoid it forever...
I have managed to avoid being "tagged" thus far. However, since so many of my friends have done this on their blogs and since one friend has given me the tagging " honor" I feel obligated. :) So here is some rather uninteresting information about me! As usual, I give too much detail.
4 jobs I've had:
1. When I was 14 my friend Cathy got me this job to dress up as Wendy of Wendy's Hamburgers and go around Las Vegas for some promotional things. Wig, drawn-on freckles, the outfit. I think I did it three or four times. One time I even had to dance with a guy in a huge bowling pin costume. Every little kid thought I was Pippy Longstocking. I got paid $10 an hour, though, and had tons of free frosty coupons!
2. I worked at a little mom & pop Church bookstore with all of my friend's moms while I was in high school. I LOVED that job and I love my friend's moms.
3. I had a short stint working for a Pakistani Allstate Insurance agent named Shamim who didn't like women and whom I could barely understand. He didn't want to train me, but he wanted me to know exactly what to do and when to do it. I felt like I was going to vomit every morning when I had to go to work. I worked with a lady who wanted to get full-body plastic surgery so that she could 'dance' on the strip and she tried to get me to call her ex-boyfriend and pretend it was her even though she was married with two kids. It lasted all of two or three weeks before I'd had enough.
4. In New York I was working as a receptionist at an orthodontist's office and convinced him to train me to work in mouths. He thought I was the best employee ever :) so he agreed and I became a full-fledged orthodontic technician - taking braces off, putting them on, adjusting them, taking x-rays. Shouldn't you have to go to school for something like that?!
Places I've lived:
1. Kearns, Utah
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Rexburg, ID
4. Hawai'i (Big Island and Oahu)
5. Niskayuna, NY
6. Silverdale, WA
Movies I love:
*I am not very critical of movies, I just enjoy a good break for my brain and to feel better for having watched it*
1. Fried Green Tomatoes
2. Pride and Prejudice (A&E version)
3. Contact
4. Cast Away
5. Life is Beautiful (not the dubbed version)
6. Rudy
7. Remember the Titans
That's all I can think of right now...
Favorite Foods:
*This is dangerous for a pregnant lady...now I'm going to crave it all!*
1. Anything Mexican
2. I love the chicken alfredo pizza at Olive Garden
3. Tyler's garlic, super creamy mashed potatoes
4. A good, ripe tomato from our garden...good veggies from any garden!
4 weird things about me:
1. I can flip my eyelids inside-out. Max loves it and often tries to do it for me.
2. When I sit in one position for a long time, my hip gets all jacked and I walk like a 90-year-old woman for a few minutes before everything goes back where it's supposed to be.
3. When I get tired I cannot look at sharp corners - it hurts my eyes. Tyler read me part of an article in TIME magazine that said that is a symptom of OCD. We laughed because I am a little on the OCD side with some things.
4. I couldn't say my R's when I was little and so I was in speech therapy for a bit. Now I overenunciate and it's especially noticeable on some words. My little brother always had me say "green grass". I love good enunciation in all forms, it makes me happy!
Favorite Shows:
1. LOST
2. The Office
3. TLC & Discovery Channel shows - Baby Story, Trading Spaces, Cash Cab, Dirty Jobs
4. 24 - except last season stunk
Places I'd rather be:
1. Visiting family
2. On a date/at the temple with Ty
3. At the park with Max and Ty
4. Hanging out with some of my best girlfriends
People I'm tagging:
1. Kristen
2. Angie
3. Liz
4. Bethany
4 jobs I've had:
1. When I was 14 my friend Cathy got me this job to dress up as Wendy of Wendy's Hamburgers and go around Las Vegas for some promotional things. Wig, drawn-on freckles, the outfit. I think I did it three or four times. One time I even had to dance with a guy in a huge bowling pin costume. Every little kid thought I was Pippy Longstocking. I got paid $10 an hour, though, and had tons of free frosty coupons!
2. I worked at a little mom & pop Church bookstore with all of my friend's moms while I was in high school. I LOVED that job and I love my friend's moms.
3. I had a short stint working for a Pakistani Allstate Insurance agent named Shamim who didn't like women and whom I could barely understand. He didn't want to train me, but he wanted me to know exactly what to do and when to do it. I felt like I was going to vomit every morning when I had to go to work. I worked with a lady who wanted to get full-body plastic surgery so that she could 'dance' on the strip and she tried to get me to call her ex-boyfriend and pretend it was her even though she was married with two kids. It lasted all of two or three weeks before I'd had enough.
4. In New York I was working as a receptionist at an orthodontist's office and convinced him to train me to work in mouths. He thought I was the best employee ever :) so he agreed and I became a full-fledged orthodontic technician - taking braces off, putting them on, adjusting them, taking x-rays. Shouldn't you have to go to school for something like that?!
Places I've lived:
1. Kearns, Utah
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Rexburg, ID
4. Hawai'i (Big Island and Oahu)
5. Niskayuna, NY
6. Silverdale, WA
Movies I love:
*I am not very critical of movies, I just enjoy a good break for my brain and to feel better for having watched it*
1. Fried Green Tomatoes
2. Pride and Prejudice (A&E version)
3. Contact
4. Cast Away
5. Life is Beautiful (not the dubbed version)
6. Rudy
7. Remember the Titans
That's all I can think of right now...
Favorite Foods:
*This is dangerous for a pregnant lady...now I'm going to crave it all!*
1. Anything Mexican
2. I love the chicken alfredo pizza at Olive Garden
3. Tyler's garlic, super creamy mashed potatoes
4. A good, ripe tomato from our garden...good veggies from any garden!
4 weird things about me:
1. I can flip my eyelids inside-out. Max loves it and often tries to do it for me.
2. When I sit in one position for a long time, my hip gets all jacked and I walk like a 90-year-old woman for a few minutes before everything goes back where it's supposed to be.
3. When I get tired I cannot look at sharp corners - it hurts my eyes. Tyler read me part of an article in TIME magazine that said that is a symptom of OCD. We laughed because I am a little on the OCD side with some things.
4. I couldn't say my R's when I was little and so I was in speech therapy for a bit. Now I overenunciate and it's especially noticeable on some words. My little brother always had me say "green grass". I love good enunciation in all forms, it makes me happy!
Favorite Shows:
1. LOST
2. The Office
3. TLC & Discovery Channel shows - Baby Story, Trading Spaces, Cash Cab, Dirty Jobs
4. 24 - except last season stunk
Places I'd rather be:
1. Visiting family
2. On a date/at the temple with Ty
3. At the park with Max and Ty
4. Hanging out with some of my best girlfriends
People I'm tagging:
1. Kristen
2. Angie
3. Liz
4. Bethany
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