Monday, December 28, 2009

Update of utmost importance!

First off, yesterday was my 9th anniversary... 9 YEARS! And though it hasn't always been easy, I am so very glad we made that jump together. I love Joe. That's all there is to it. He completes me, and he makes my life so much better than I ever could have imagined.


Second, I had a super fantastic Christmas with ALL sides of the family... we had a Christmas day with my immediate family, Christmas Eve with Joe's family, followed by a party with the Joe's other family(a party with his mom and her hubby's family, and Christmas Eve with his dad and his wife's family), we had a party for my extended family and also another with Joe's SUPER extended family (his Grandmother's family)... the parties were good, the food was great, the company was better, and my kids didn't freak out at the idea of sitting on Santa's lap... too bad I forgot my camera...

Third, I am SO DONE with this whole pregnancy thing. Yeah. It's a funny spot I'm in... I am ready to not be pregnant, but not at all ready to handle another baby. Better fix that up in a hurry, huh?

Fourth, my girls are fantastic. I love, love, LOVE them! They are amazing, and cute, and funny, and cute...

Fifth, this update isn't really that important, I just wanted you to read it. Love to you all, and Happy New Year!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Lists...

I have a new friend. She and I are due pretty close to the same time (she's a bit further along than I am). She is a pretty big fan of lists (as am I...), and has compiled a couple pregnancy lists I just LOVED. So of course, I felt the need to take her lists, share them here, and add a few to them (my additions are in red and italics). Now, on to the lists!


(in no particular order)

The best things about pregnancy
1. Feeling like I always have a secret... something that is temporarily all mine and no one else's.
2. My boobs get bigger :)
3. Strangers seem much more kind and courteous
4. Being able to use pregnancy as an excuse to con strangers into being more kind and courteous (like convincing them to let you cut in line for example) ... not that I do that sort of stuff....
5. Feeling kicks and wiggles and watching my belly wave like the ocean
6. My hubby and kids getting to feel and watch the baby move... and the excitement it creates in Lilia in particular
7. Not feeling so guilty about sleeping in until noon :) (or taking naps mid-day while one kid sleeps and the other is at school)
8. Looking at cute baby clothes!
9. Imagining tiny little fingers and toes and fuzzy heads and cute little cheeks that I'll one day get to snuggle with :)
10. Nesting instincts. I get sooo much more accomplished when these hit!
11. Always getting dibs on using the bathroom first :)
12. Getting free upgrades on airplanes and in hotels
(didn't know about this, and won't ever need to worry about it...).
13. Not feeling like I should change out of my
yoga pants after 3 days of wearing them, just to go to the grocery store.
14. Having a built in heater during the winter.

The most ANNOYING things about pregnancy

1. weird dreams... like dreams that keep you wondering all day long why the heck you dreamed about that.
2. That in-between time when no one can really tell you're pregnant, but you feel very overly pregnant
3. The three people a week (average) who tell me I look like I am about to pop even though I still have 7 weeks left.
4. The two to three bathroom trips each night.
5. Sneezing with a full bladder.
6. My personal identity disappearing, and suddenly the only thing I'm known for is "being pregnant"
7. Going through more than one pair of underwear in a day... especially annoying when it's more than two... or three... or when I run out of underwear before laundry day comes.
8. Prenatal vitamins. gross. huge.
9. Acne worse than when I was in high school
10. Not being able to eat the cookie dough :( (or brownie mix)
11. Seatbelts
12. Acid Reflux ALL.THE.TIME.
13. Listening to random strangers tell stories about how "this one thing happened to my cousin's husband's best friend's pregnant wife...."
14. Ligament pain... All. The. Time.
15. People being overly cautious of me. Like suddenly it's not safe for me to stand on a chair to hang something on the wall...
16. Crying at everything. Like billboards. Or cell phone and toilet paper commercials. (And having major freak outs over minor things...)
17. Having the nesting urge but not being able (by doctors orders) to sweep, mop, or vacuum or lift anything heavy...
18. Not being able to look sideways while in an elevator or escalator without falling over.
19. Some of my favorite foods and smells are suddenly disgusting to me.
20. Only being able to take Tylenol for pain... because I might as well eat a Smartee (
21. Everybody suddenly seems to walk WAY too fast...
22. My butt hurts. Technically it's my pelvic bone. Either way, I hurt, down there, all the time.
23. Having a built in heater in the summer.
24. Excuse me while I go pee...again...

The most annoying things PEOPLE SAY.... *and my response (if I had the guts)

1. How are you feeling? *pregnant. fat. hungry. my butt hurts. i just peed my pants again. annoyed that you're the 50th person to ask me that today.your breath smells
2. You're having a boy. I can tell.
3. How are you feeling?
4. Are you sure you're not having twins? *Are you sure YOU are not pregnan?? 'cause you're looking awfully fat...
5. How are you feeling? *Like the next person to ask me this is gonna get kicked in the knee caps. Go take a shower.
6. You're barely even showing, in fact, you're smaller than last time. *Really? Is that why all my maternity clothes are TOO SMALL and my belly knocks things over as I walk through the stores, and everyone stares at me?
7. How are you feeling?
8. So was this planned? *seriously? Do I look 16 to you? Yes this was planned. And even if it wasn't- does it matter?
9. You look cuter in maternity clothes than you do in regular clothes. *Wow. Thanks. I'm not quite sure how to respond to this one.
10.Are you nervous about the pain during delivery?? *ummm... would YOU be nervous if you knew you had to push out an 8 pound turd? Yeah, I thought so.
11. Are you pregnant? *no. It's a bee sting.
12. Can I feel your belly? *ALWAY, I mean ALWAYS asked by a really nasty, creepy looking stranger in a check-out line at the store. (Note- it only bothers me when strangers ask- if I know you, ask away!)
13. How are you feeling?

The best (read: WORST) advice I have ever been given while pregnant
1. To cure morning sickness, drink a beer each morning. (RIIIGHT!)
2. Breastfeeding your daughter will make her a lesbian. (Um. Okay. What do I say to THAT?)
3. Baby needs to fit in with your routine, not the other way around. (To an extent I agree, but not with a newborn... I work my baby into our family routine over time.)
4. IBC Rootbeer brings your milk supply in. (what a crock)
5. You need to feed her solids! She is under nourished (my baby was 6 weeks old)
6. It's okay to skip a meal a day to keep your weight down.
7. Stop taking your pain meds (right after birth) or else your baby won't wake up to eat. (Not true- that baby WILL wake up when hungry enough. Take advantage of the sleepy baby while you can!)

Hope you all have a fantastic day!

Monday, November 23, 2009

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

A friend of mine posted a video on her blog titled "In The Spirit of Thanksgiving" where people on the streets of New York were asked one question: What are you thankful for?


The answers were great. You got the typical, health, family, job answers. And you got the religious answers. And you even got some funny answers, like Macaroni and Cheese, and Not being yelled at by a cabbie. I am not gonna post the message here, but I will leave you this link. Go check it out if you get a spare 5 minutes. It's great!

In the meantime, it's my turn to list all my many blessings that I find myself grateful for. Many of my friends have taken on a challenge to post on their Facebook status something they are thankful for every day through November. I chose not to do it as I have made it a bit of a tradition to post a blog list just before (or after) Thanksgiving day. Today seems as good a day as any so here I go!

In no particular order, I am thankful for:

My health. Though this pregnancy hasn't necessarily been a great experience, and though I have some aches and pains I haven't dealt with for either of my other pregnancies, I do have to appreciate that all in all, I have been healthy. I have (so far) been blessed to not get any flu bugs or nasty colds, or other such viruses. And for that, how can I NOT be grateful?

My husband. Joe is such an amazing man. I feel so privileged to have him in my life. He is such a sweet husband, and father. He loves his girls. And none of us girls doubt that love. He is genuine, he is caring, and he is extremely funny. He is such a help around the house. Especially when my energy is low from pregnancy. He cooks better than me, he cleans better than me, and he doesn't mind helping out. He is a fantastic father. He helps when the girls are sick, he can make them laugh and loves to cuddle on the couch with them. He is also a hotty...

Lilia. She is such a fantastic kid! She is smart, and beautiful, and funny. She has been out thinking me since she was three, and though it can be frustrating, it makes me proud to have such a smart kiddo. She is a fantastic big sister, and though she has the ability to be a bit overbearing, her sister adores her. She is growing up so fast, and becoming such a beautiful girl (as opposed to the adorable toddler she once was). She loves to dance, and sing, and tell jokes. She is always willing to help me when I am cooking (or baking) and has a knack for reading that I hope she continues to work on and grows to love. She has some perfectly awesome 5 year old common sense, and frequently has me giggling at her insights. She is so much fun to talk to, and I am thankful she is my big girl.

Lacey. She is so very different from her sister. She is tough, and quiet, and so very cute! Anyone who is a parent knows how dangerous it is when the kids are out of your line of vision and being quiet. Problem is, Lacey is ALWAYS quiet. I can never tell if she is up to something naughty, because she is just as quiet then as she is when she is behaving. She is perfectly content to be left alone to do her own thing (for good and bad). She is a tough little cookie, and though she gets sick easier than her sister, she is a trouper and comes through each illness with flying colors. She is such a sweet girl. No matter how naughty she has been, if she looks at me with her big eyes and says, "Sowwy Momma." How can I not melt? She loves to sing as well, she is talking more and more and everything that comes out of her mouth makes us smile. Especially, "whatcha doin?" I feel very blessed to have the privilege of being her Momma, and love her hugs and kisses.

Matthew. Okay, so maybe it's a bit premature to for sure be naming him, but we do feel pretty confident that his name is Matthew. Though he isn't born yet, I am grateful for all the activity I can feel. He moves around so much that I can honestly say I have never had that scared feeling of wondering if everything is okay with him. I love this little guy already, and can hardly wait to meet him in 10 weeks.

The Gospel (and all it entails) . I am not so eloquent as some of my other friends at voicing my thoughts and feelings about my religious beliefs, but I will say this. I love the gospel for everything it offers me in my life. For the hope of the future, the knowledge of the past, the gift of today, and for the knowledge I have of Christ and HF. I love my church, I love my prophet, I love my Savior, and I love the scriptures. I know Christ died for me, and that because of him, and his sacrifice, I can not only be forgiven of all my indiscretions, but also that I can more easily overcome the feelings of anger toward those who have wronged me, and hurt me.

My family. My mother is one of my very best friends, and I cherish all her insight and wisdom. My brothers are good friends and great babysitters (hehe), and I love them dearly. My sisters, though we don't talk often, are great women, who deserve the best, and I love them both. The rest of my extended family is amazing, and close knit, and funny, and supportive. I look forward to seeing many of them over the next few months.

My in-laws. Though we have had our rough patches in the past, I do love them. They are wonderful, and supportive, and beautiful (inside and out). My father in law in particular holds a special place in my heart. He is such a sweet and amazing dad. Not just to Joe, but to me as well.

My friends. Not just my tried and true bestest friend ever (Ju). But the newer ones that I keep finding on life's path. For those friends who call to see if I need help with my sick kids. Who offer to pick something up at the store when I am in need and without a car, or bring me their maternity clothes when I realize (to my horror) that I have outgrown the ones I own. To friends who make me laugh and let me cry (hysterically) about my freakish fears and worries.

(Now on to some less serious ones)

The beautiful weather of late. It has been great to have a warmer Halloween, and only a light snow fall so far.

My house. As flawed as it is, it is still mine, and I am grateful that we have a house at all in this economy.

Joe's job. His job is a great blessing to us.

Warm blankets and hot chocolate.

Good movies. Especially the two we watched this weekend- Star Trek and New In Town. I recommend both to everyone.

New recipes (only the good ones though).

Holiday (and Pre-Holiday) Parties.

Our car.

Holiday food. More specifically, Butterscotch Yams, Turkey, Honey Baked Ham, homemade mashed potatoes, pumpkin stuff, My mother's homemade Christmas candy... I could continue, but it's really just making me more hungry...

Unsolicited hugs and kisses from my kids.

Cuddling on the couch watching movies with Joe.

Being joined on the couch by both the girls making us a really big jumbled mess of arms and legs attempting to cuddle on the couch.

The laughter I hear regularly when my girls are playing nicely with each other.

The crock pot.

1/4 of a cow at a good price.

My memory foam mattress topper.

Warm socks.

Comfy sweaters that are really cute, too.

Kindergarten Carpool.

Happy kids in the morning who like to join me in bed for a few minutes.

The dog- but only because my hubby and the kids love her so much...

I think that's a good start. I may come back and add to this, but for now, I'll call it good. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope it's wonderful!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

28 week shot and some ketchup...

Oh wait- I meant Catch Up... guess I'm hungry again. But then again, when am I NOT hungry these days?

Things are well with my little troupe. Mostly.

Lacey is sick, though I am pretty sure it's just a stomach bug- NOT the dreaded "Piggly Wiggly." If I could get her to eat something life would be good...

So first up, me- last week. From the neck down... 28 weeks:

Yup- I'm only getting bigger... gotta love it. :S

Second, I FINALLY decided to take our Halloween pumpkin to the garbage can this week. Poor guy was aging pretty rapidly. Needless to say, Jack doesn't age well. I can't show you a before picture, but I will show you what he originally looked like (It's the pattern we used):


and now?

yeah... OLD Jack.

Another funny for ya- Lacey got caught playing in the bathroom the other day. What, might you ask, was she doing in the bathroom? Brushing her teeth. With DAD'S TOOTHBRUSH!

see the remorse on her face?

the reason this is worthy of a picture is because of this:

That would be Lilia with Daddy's toothbrush when she was around 18 months. Awesome! And can I tell you how grateful I am that both times, they spared MY toothbrush? :)

Now- on to some Ism's

Lilisms:

In the car the other evening, she was enthralled with all the cars driving toward us. She liked seeing all the different headlights coming toward us. But what intrigued her the most was the cars and trucks with an extra set of running lights. She kept giggling when she saw them. When I finally asked her what was so funny she said, "Look at that car, Mom. It has a car on top of it with it's lights on, too! That's just silly!"

Lilia really loves her daddy. Lot's. So much so, that she refuses to believe that Daddy may be exaggerating and/or flat out lying to her. Now, in Joe's defense, he hasn't ever been mean about it, just that he is a tease, and like every other adult in the world, uses common known phrases that kids don't quite understand. For example: She truly believes her daddy is 6 years old.Why? Because that's what he told her. Where as I told her my REAL age (my mistake- now she tells everyone who will listen). When we went to get the Swine Flu Vaccination last week she asked if Daddy was coming. I told her, "No, Daddy is too old. He doesn't fit the age requirement." She then looked completely startled and said, "But Daddy is 6! You are ___ and that is MUCH older than 6! If he is too old, you should be too!" I tried to tell her Daddy was teasing her and that he was really 3 years older than me, but after much thought she decided I was the liar and Daddy was telling her the truth. She then got really excited and said, "So does that mean next year I won't need the flu shot?!"

Another example. Same night as the car incident mentioned above, as we were driving to pick up Joe from work, she said, "Mom, did you know where I lived when I was zero like a baby?" I said, "Yeah, you lived in our old house in Layton." She responded, "No silly! I lived in the blue car with you and Daddy!" I was really puzzled until I told Joe and he laughed. Back when Lil was a baby we both worked and our daily commute was almost 2 hours 1 way and another 2 hours back. So Joe had told Lil that when she was a baby, because mommy worked too, that she lived in the car (because she spent 4 hours a day in the car)... No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't convince her that Daddy didn't REALLY mean that she lived in the car. Just that she spent a lot of time there. Gotta love it!

Laceyism:

Yesterday I had to take a trip to city center to work out some snags with a business licence issue. While standing at the abnormally high counter (It came up to my chest) filling out the proper paperwork, Lacey pushed a chair up next to me, stood on it and peeked over the top (all that could be seen over her was her head). The lady behind the counter said, "Hi! What's your name?"To which Lacey replied, "Lacey" and then the lady asked, "How old are you?" And Lace- with a completely straight face held up an open hand and said, "I'm 5." Seems she learned that response from listening to her sister. Either that or my two-year-old is trying to grow up WAY too fast.

Yeah- that's all for now. Hope life is treating you well!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Feelin' the need...

So my blog has been neglected again (mostly) and therefore I am gonna go back and post my facebook status updates for the last little while, since they really do tell my life story best...


(All those of you reading this from Facebook, feel free to skip it!)

Pamela is sad and in a mild state of numbed shock. Rest in peace Uncle Carl. I'll truly miss you! October 1 at 10:06am


Pamela is exhausted and will be making more apple sauce tomorrow... but the apple sauce bit is exciting. I am LOVING the apples I have! October 3 at 8:10pm


Pamela Is super excited for Laura's baby shower tonight. She has NO IDEA! Hope to see many people there! October 6 at 7:39am


Pamela Shower was a total surprise, and Laura walked away with a big smile on her face! :) Thanks to those of you that came and ate and partied with us! October 6 at 10:19pm


Pamela gets to get three shots and a blood draw in the next 4 weeks. Can we say YAY (that, my dear friends, is sarcasm)! October 8 at 2:32pm


Pamela Curtis Wiggins has a TON to do today... well, actually this week/month... and doesn't feel like doing any of it! October 9 at 11:16am


Pamela Is hoping for a date night on either Tuesday or Wednesday night (sans children)... anyone wanna join us? October 9 at 6:27pm

(Didn't happen- my sitter went into labor, and the other couple coming with us came down with H1N1)


Pamela wants to know if ANY of her friends are interested in taking an awesome relic off our hands. More specifically an original Nintendo (okay so it's a Japanese knock off, but it plays Nintendo games) plus, the duck hunt gun, the floor pad, and 31 games (including the original Super Mario Bros, and Zelda)... we do have the original Nintendo deck, but it's kinda touchy... October 10 at 8:40am

(Sold to the first commenter! Congrats CaliAnn and Brett)


Pamela Is praying for good luck and laboring for her friend Laura! Good luck, girl! October 13 at 9:22pm


Pamela Is pretty pathetic... I just watched Biggest Loser while ingesting more chocolate than I care to admit to... October 13 at 10:08pm


Pamela can be such a dip... I just tried "saving" my spot in an ONLINE article by hanging a bookmark off the side of my keyboard before closing the laptop on top of it to deal with my kids... October 14 at 9:36am


Pamela Is there anything better than an unsolicited sticky gooey kiss from your 2 year old? I think not... :D October 14 at 4:51pm


Pamela List of things to do today: Go to an eye appt. Call my doc about breathing problems, look for flu shots/mist for my kids and the flu shots for me, call a man about 2 cows, visit Laura and Sarah, take Lil and her friend to dance class, and attend an Enrichment meeting. And in between all that I gotta make me some jewelry! October 15 at 8:02am


Pamela Is making COOKIES! October 16 at 10:54am

(they were GOOOOOD- Pumpkin Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting)


Pamela finally has some idea of what to do for Christmas... now to make it happen! October 18 at 3:56pm

(Still can't say, my SIL's may read this, but I am excited about it...)


Pamela was amazed at how poorly Lil handled getting a flu shot. I had to literally HOLD her down. She was SO freaked out about getting a shot in the arm! October 19 at 11:32am


Pamela hit a nerve in her hand last night and lost the use of it for a good 4 hours before bed. It's still a bit achy, but at least I can type again! October 21 at 8:30am


Pamela just finished a banana popsicle... all is right with the world. October 21 at 2:25pm

(hmmm... just finished a rootbeer one, and still feeling like all is right with the world!)


Pamela is trying not to worry about the fact that the last three babies born in my neighborhood (all in the last week) were each 8 lbs or bigger... I am wondering if this is some kind of omen.... October 23 at 9:25am


Pamela Got this note from Lilia today: "Der Mom, You are the best mom in this wrld Lilia" I love this kid! October 23 at 12:49pm


Pamela is trying to decide if she should go make sure her children are still breathing... They are both still sleeping- very unusual... wakeup time is usually 7 am... October 26 at 8:40am

(they woke up just as I hit send)


Pamela has lower back pain. No fun. Looks like it's a good day to just CHILL on the couch and recoup from a busy weekend of nothingness. (I swear this weekend seemed so busy, but we didn't go anywhere... just stayed home with Sickie Lil and watched all 5 Harry Potters, plus some house cleaning and laundry) October 26 at 9:55am


Pamela just caught up on the goings on of some of my friends, and now feels that even though things aren't perfect, I've got it pretty good right now. My prayers go out to those of you dealing with pains and difficulties! October 26 at 2:41pm

(hopefully things are better with my oh so awesome VFriends)


Pamela Is annoyed... my laptop is down for the count again... CRAPTASTIC! October 26 at 9:59pm


Pamela Eh hem: IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME VISIT ME AFTER THIS BABY ARRIVES SOUTHWEST IS DOING A KILLER $25 FARE SPECIAL OFFER BETWEEN THE DATES OF JAN. 5 AND FEB. 10. BUT THE SALE IS ONLY GOING ON TIL THURSDAY AT 11:59pm... Just sayin'... October 27 at 9:03am


Pamela loves the biggest loser but is getting REALLY tired of people throwing themselves under the bus! I am broken hearted about who went home tonight! October 27 at 10:08pm


Pamela Lacey has decided that crying is the thing to do at nap time now. Do I ignore it and hope she sleeps or do I go cuddle with her and possibly cause a bad habit to form? Decisions... decisions... October 28 at 1:54pm

(Okay- not a real tough decision... I just hate listening to the crying)


Pamela Lilia just informed me that "Pam is a mean mom, but Dora would be a nice mom" Good to know I compare so unfavorably to a cartoon character... October 28 at 4:06pm


Pamela So, a couple weeks ago, my Uncle Carl passed away. He bore a striking resemblance to Santa, and played Santa at our family party every year. Now- what do I do about my 5 year old asking me "So, mom? What are we gonna do now that Santa is dead?" October 29 at 6:40pm

(Joe handled it magnificently... Lil is a happy camper again)

Pamela spent half an hour working on Lil's costume and came back upstairs to a completely THRASHED front room. Can we say, "yay!"? :S October 30 at 12:17pm


Pamela IS so excited for some Thanksgiving goodness! :) November 2 at 8:30am


Pamela had her blood drawn today, and is surprised at the pain it is causing in her elbow... I actually had to change shirts (to something short sleeved) so the shirt wouldn't rub against the already forming bruise... November 2 at 11:26am

(the bruise is about 5 inches long... and it's been a week!)

Pamela went all out... turned off both phones, hung my children sleeping sign, put on some warm sweats and took a nap with Lacey... EXACTLY what I needed after staying up WAY too late last night. November 2 at 3:23pm


Pamela Slipped while mopping yesterday... tell ya what, DON'T try doing the splits when 6 months pregnant... BAD Idea. Pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my lower abdomen. November 4 at 7:49am


Pamela Is it really only 9am? I hate waking up early... November 6 at 8:55am

(to clarify- I had been up for 3 hours already... kiddo #2 woke me up at 6)


Pamela Lacey has eaten parts of her peanut butter sandwich to look like a phone receiver, and is currently talking into it. Awesome. November 6 at 12:48pm


Pamela This hesitant momma has been schooled. Lacey took her diaper off this morning, sat on the potty, and then got off and refused to put a diaper back on. Looks like she really REALLY wants to be potty trained! Let the "fun" begin! :S Sun at 1:28pm

(False alarm... she just wanted to play with the toilet paper. Though I will be working with her on potty training.)


Pamela AACK! I made artichokes for dinner and am OUT OF MAYONNAISE! ::GASP:: I think I am gonna cry! Sun at 6:37pm

(As seen in my previous blog- it was a disaster, but I did buy mayo the next day and polish off the last artichoke for lunch. YUMMY!)


And there ya have it folks! My life in a Facebook-like nutshell!