Brooks' perspective

I took the kids to the zoo yesterday and wanted to share a sampling of Brooks' pictures from the trip.
Mostly he took pictures of every reptile in the reptile house. He's been learning about reptiles at school.

This one was a dangerous shot, he had to reach his arms out over the water, through the fence. His daring ways paid off though as you can tell:
Almost a picture of the new elephant (taken from the train):
Almost as good, a picture of the new elephant statue:
The sloth is up there on the top of that ledge. Not doing much:
Gorilla #1 basking in the sun: (I had to remind myself that it's still February. )
Gorilla #2 all balled up in a cave trying to rest:
Rhinos
And don't forget the all important list of birds in the "Baobab Overlook":

28 weeks. That's it I'm going to the library tomorrow and getting a baby name book.

****Edit*****

Liesl you reminded me about the name situation. We are going to name her Deanne after my mom, but are currently searching for just the right middle name. She will most likely go by her middle name, I don't know if I could call her Deanne it just makes me feel too sad.
So, we are totally open to name options!!!!
Any letter!!!!!
Although I think names that start with vowels and are at least 2 syllables sound the best. What do you think? Lewis loves Violet.

Hairspray

So, it's pretty obvious that Cate the great has the craziest hair ever.
Here is what it looks like most mornings (and if we're being honest most of the time):

On days that I'm feeling really ambitious these are the things I pull out and attempt to tame that mane with:

And here is the final product. The suave detangler is a staple at our house and it smells really really good. I think it works great to help with knots. The John Frieda dream curls spray is great too. It helps keep her curls under control without making them stiff or crunchy at all.

Do you have any curly hair products that you love or would recommend? We're always open to suggestions.
She's pretty tasty. And weighing in at 25.2 lbs these days! Hooray!

27 weeks.

Well, if those last few heavy posts haven't scared away the 3 people who read this blog, this one might do the trick! Also, I realized that I should probably proofread my posts before I post them instead of just writing a sentence here and there while dealing with needy children.
Moving on.
Let's just start with the 27 week pictures. How can I really be that far along? Time to get serious. Time to start thinking about having this baby! HELP!
Is my booty or my belly growing faster? hmmmmm.....
And thanks so much to the phlebotomist who did a number on my arm. You would think she would do a better job since it's all she does ALL DAY. This picture doesn't do it justice because it had been a week.

Although I am getting huge huge huge (bigger by the minute I tell you) I am feeling worlds better this week. Why you ask? One word: prenatalcradle.com
Life changing.
Wonderful.
Incredible.
Should I go on?
When I was pregnant with Cate I had a lot of pelvic pain, pressure, and swelling as well as sciatic pain. When I talked to the doctor about it he just told me that I was pregnant and pain was one of the things I was just going to have to deal with.
This time around the pain is really similar but in slightly different parts of my pelvis. This isn't just discomfort, but actual pain to the point that I can't stand for more than a few seconds at a time. By the end of the day, forget it, I was making dinner while sitting in a chair. Also, I was a beast to be around after about 2pm. Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago even sitting had become painful. So last week I decided to ask my new, FEMALE doctor about it and she recommended the prenatal cradle. And the rest is history. I am a new woman. The pain has been reduced so much! I have even been running again. It's totally amazing. I am noticing the sciatica more, but it's nothing compared to what I was dealing with before.
I know this probably falls under the TMI category, but I wanted to tell the world just in case someone else has these kinds of issues. So if you do, don't waste another minute. Get yourself a prenatal cradle and even though it looks ridiculous I promise it will change your life.


And on a totally unrelated note, this is what my kids are doing right now:
There still isn't much grass back there but I haven't given up yet!
Dear Birmingham,

The weather this week has almost made up for how completely you suck. Keep up the good work.
(Reader: before you judge me think about this---if your skin looked like mine and you had asthma all the time for no reason you would hate it too.)

xoxoxo

love, JJ

D's quilt

Last Friday I got this in the mail:
With this:
Here's a close up:
Isn't it perfect? It goes with Brooks' elephant quilt that my mom made for him which is great since they'll be sharing a room!
The timing couldn't have been better. I've been missing my mom so much. I'm sure you're tired of hearing about that or reading that, but it's still true. I still go for my phone to call her when something weird or funny happens and I can't tell you how many times I've already wished I could ask her for advice. These last 3 1/2 years or so have been tough with Lewis gone all the time and living in a place where I don't feel like is a great fit, but having my mom to talk to always made it seem bearable and she loved hearing my stories. Not having that support has been super tough.
I know that she isn't far away though and when I opened the package on Friday I felt like she was right there in the room. It's a weird feeling to explain, but you know that feeling when you aren't looking at someone but you can feel another person in the room? It was so great. I just wished I could have given her a big hug but that will have to wait. In the mean time I have loads of terrific memories and lots of great stories that I never knew about. You can read some on her blog: rememberingdeanne.blogspot.com.
I wanted to post a couple of them here if you don't mind. I say that but really I don't care because it's my blog and I can do what I want!!!!


One week when I was visiting the Park City ward I witnesses one of the sweetest acts of charity that I have ever seen. Kent was a handicapped fellow who would come to Church every week and sit on the front row, right square in the middle of the row. Every week he would walk to the front of the chapel and sit in the same place. One week when there were more visitors than members the entire front row was filled by visitors who had no idea of Kent's routine well before the meeting started. Kent showed up as usual, walked to the front as usual and saw that his "spot" was taken and worse there were no other seats on the front row. kent did not know what to do. He began to pace, back and forth right in front of the stand. Everyone in the congregation saw him. The brother who was trying to conduct saw him. Everyone was uncomfortable and no one seemed to know what to do. He just paced back and forth, back and forth and kind of groaned as he did it. Deanne stood up from somewhere in the back, walked to the front of the chapel, put an arm around Kent (who, by he way was probably about 50 years old) and quietly asked someone on the front row to go to another seat and then sat Kent reverently in his spot. What had been anxiety and concern was immediately replaced with warmth and calm I will never forget it. It was one of the kindest, sweetest most tender acts of Christianity I have ever witnessed. She was a wonderful woman of enormous character and with enormous compassion.

P. H.



Dear Kurt and family,

I am so sorry for your loss. I can't begin to express my feelings and love for Deanne. How grateful and lucky I am that you were so willing to share your wife and mom with me. She truly exemplified everything a friend should be.

I don't know if you know that we meet about 16 years ago when she was assigned to be my visiting teacher. And what a blessing. She became like a sister to me. She taught me to be a friend to those I visit taught. What started out as Visiting teaching visits became a long and special friendship.

Deanne did so many things for so many people that I'm sure she didn't even tell her family. So I want to share a few of those things she did for me so you all know some of them.

In April 2001 my 33 year old sister passed away. I went to Vegas for a week to make arrangements for her kids and the funeral. I didn't know how I could take a week off and how I would handle it financially and emotionally. I was working 1 full time job and 2 part time jobs to make ends meet. When I returned as I entered my house I knew Deanne had been there. The cupboards were full of groceries, there was a hot meal ready and a bouquet of flowers on the table. Deanne had left a note offering to do anything else I needed. But so like Deanne she had already done everything without being asked. I got through the next few weeks with Deanne making many caring calls just to inquire how I was and let me know someone else shared my pain. Deanne helped get me through this time.

Another time that is a HUGE memory for me and my kids was Christmas (I think 1999, or 2000). Kurt and Deanne rescued me, more than they can imagine. JJ, Jackie, Jordan, Kip and John I want you to know that I can never repay what your Mom and Dad did for me that Christmas.
I was living on the corner of ------------. We had been living there for a few months. We had recently moved from SunValley, Id. Circumstances were such that I had to leave everything I owned in storage units there, or in the rental we had been living in. We were sleeping on the floor, eating at the kitchen counters, and using a igloo for food. Everything was in Idaho. I couldn't afford to go get anything and thought I would lose it all. The things that were the most heartbreaking were the scrapbooks, homemade blankets from grandmas, pictures, a life time of memories those kind of things that can't be replaced.
Anyway on the 23rd of Dec.a big U-haul pulls in to the driveway. Kurt was driving. He had gone to SunValley and pickup up all my stuff. Many ward members arrived along with Deanne and unloaded that U-haul, put beds together, made beds, filled cupboards and even brought in a Christmas tree.
I can't even begin to describe how happy the kids were. How embarrassed and happy I was. As I reminisce about that time it still makes me cry. I can't believe there are such wonderful and good people in this world. And I really can't explain how that Christmas changed my life and made me want to be just like Kurt and Deanne. For my kids it was a Christmas where they had thought life couldn't get any worse and it ended up being a joyous and wonderful holiday.

Deanne could always do these kind of things and make the recipient (me) not feel stupid. She just radiated love and gave service everywhere she went.

I have many more stories of fun and happy times Deanne and I shared. I loved being able to think about them.

I know Deanne has probably already got a service project planned up in heaven. She is teaching the inactive and less fortunate how to live the gospel so they can spend eternity with their loved ones just like she will. She is so busy being that wonderful friend and helping others that she is smiling and radiating goodness for everyone to see. I sure will miss Deanne.

Your family has been in my thoughts and prayers constantly this week. May the Lord be with you and watch over all of you in the coming weeks,
K.

A huge thank you to everyone who has sent stories and pictures. These great memories help to take away the sadness that I feel when I start to feel sorry for myself! I know that my mom wouldn't ever just sit around and feel sorry for herself and it reminds me to get off my butt and do something for someone else like she would if she could.

Dear Aiden

I love this picture. I hope you will always set a good example for Cate because she looks up to you!

Sweet Aiden,

What a birthday week you had this year! I am so thrilled that we were able to celebrate your birthday with so many people we love. I want you to know how proud I am of you and the choices you make. I think you were born ready to roll and anyone who has ever known you has seen what a unique and smart girl you are. As I watch you grow I am continually awed by your quick mind and your sweetness. Just the other night you showed me that side when you waited in the church hallway for a girl who couldn't keep up with the group. I could tell that it was a hard decision for you because you wanted to run ahead with the other girls, but I could see your conscience keeping you from going and it made me so proud to watch you make that choice on your own. You didn't even know I could see you.

Your birthday started out with oatmeal with a candle in it! You love oatmeal and it was a great way to get your day started. You had to go to school and even had two tests, but you still had a great time being the birthday girl at school. Grandma Dee and Grandpa had come all the way from Russia to be here for your baptism, so we got to spend your birthday with them.
This is extra special because you and Grandma Dee share a birthday!! Of course you chose Vietnamese food for your birthday dinner and we all had a great time eating our soup, noodles, and tapioca smoothies. Sunday was your baptism. Jackie, Brian, Tillie, and Porter were driving through which worked out perfectly! Grandfather flew in on Sunday afternoon and we all headed over to the church together.
At 3pm the Relief Society room was filled completely with people who love you and wanted to support you in this decision. I couldn't believe how many people were there! It felt so nice to have all those people there since so many of our family members live far away and couldn't be here with you on that day.
When we lived in Connecticut I would go to all the baptisms and was always so moved to see these sweet 8 year olds making this decision to be baptized. It is so touching to see you make such an incredible covenant and I felt to blessed to see you follow your Savior Jesus Christ and enter the waters of baptism like He did. As you entered and made a promise to take His name upon you, to keep the commandments, to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those in need of comfort" I was filled with peace and love. Even though the water was so hot-- "even hotter than a hot tub" you said-- I know that you know you made the right decision. Can you believe I forgot a towel? The water was so hot that it was just evaporating right off you anyway so the missing towel was really ok! It was sweet for me to see you wearing that dress that I wore and that YaYa wore, Nana made it for her and it IS just like the dresses from The Sound of Music!
After we made the quickest change ever we came back into the room and you were given the gift of the Holy Ghost by dad who has the authority of the holy Melchizedek priesthood. He gave you a sweet blessing too and it was so incredible to see you become a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! As I watched you make this step I was torn. I was thrilled that you had made this decision, but also a little sad to see you growing so quickly. I feel like you are going to be asking to borrow the car tomorrow and the next day moving off to college (even though you assure me now that you will never want to move away). Although you received many wonderful, thoughtful gifts that day and on your birthday AND at your party the next weekend, the greatest gift you received was the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the godhead. Although he doesn't have a body, he is a powerful and wonderful companion that we can have when we are baptized and then confirmed. When the Savior left the earth he promised us that he wouldn't leave us alone, he wouldn't leave us comfortless. As long as we live righteously, the Holy Ghost will guide us, strengthen us, help us, and comfort us. I can't tell you what that has meant to me over the last couple of months. I have literally felt the Holy Ghost like a comforter around me. Almost like a blanket was being wrapped around me or some really big arms were hugging me. The pain and loneliness that I have felt are also very real, but I know that I can find comfort and peace because of the gift that I received when I was 8 years old too. It is incredible and I hope that you will feel the influence of the Holy Ghost daily in your life as you struggle to grow and make good decisions.
Aiden, you are a treasure to me. I will never be able to explain to you how I felt at the moment of your birth or how I feel when I see you learning and growing, but it's incredible. You are an incredible daughter of God and you have so much potential within you. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow (as long as you promise it won't be too fast--you're still only in the 5th percentile for height so at least you're still tiny)! I love you A!
Here's a picture of a few of the friends who came over for dinner after your baptism. I bet we had at least 50 people here:
Oh, and I won't forget to put a picture from you "My Doll and Me Salon and Tea Party" birthday party too. Super fun!

Weeks 25 and 26

Starting to feel huge.

24 weeks

So much to say--like where is the line between being a nice doctor (or person in general) and getting taken advantage of? Lewis and I tend to be on different ends of that one. Also, Aiden got baptized and we had lots of awesome visitors. Some came from as far as Russia!

But now it's bedtime so here are some pictures of my belly last Friday.


I am thinking I will take all of the pictures in the same shirt--at least until it explodes since it was sort of tight to begin with.

But why didn't you play my fun game last time? I guess it was easier than I thought and I'm the mother so I should be ashamed of myself.

TTFN