Copycats

These two have been hanging out a lot.



Thanks to my dear sis-in-law, I am able to run various errands and fit my swim classes in while she lets Croz come and play and (besides Nan & Grandpa's) it is his favorite place to be.

When we are on the way to their house, Crosby says in this deep monster voice, "I go to my CAH-ZINS (cousins)." And then points which direction for me to turn off the freeway, gives a shout-out to the fountain we pass each time, and then tells me once again which road to turn down.

Today I took Sabita to an eye doc appointment and Crosby went over to play... he and Brig have been good buddies lately. I have even noticed him starting to talk like Brig. I will ask him to go do something and he will say "Uhkay," JUST like Brig, and then today as I yet again asked him to go do something he slumped his shoulders over and hunched his back as he shuffle-stepped out of the room... JUST like Brig. It's just funny.

When this baby comes, Croz will need to seriously rely on a circle of friends. What a rude awakening coming his way! My poor baby guy. He walks around the house saying, "Mama, should we wrestle? Should we play in the black dirt outside? Should we make a ramp for my snow plow dump truck? Should we make a Love Day card? (from Blue's Clue's, which he LOVES)... and sometimes he just walks around saying, "Should we..." Overstimulated? Maybe.

He is very considerate about feelings. The other day I was (trying) to bend over and made some sound of excruciating pain and he said, "Mama? You can't bend over? Because of my baby brother?" Any "ows" or "ooohs" I make he says, "Mama... you hurt yours... (fill in the blank)?"

He walks around the house calling himself Dr. Barua and wears a badge that he holds up and says, "See? I a doctor. Doctor Bo-wu-ah."

After many bed-wrestling sessions, a phrase has come about that Crosby whips out everywhere. It sounds like, "Ho-ba-dough" and he says it before violently lunging himself over my extremely pregnant belly. He says it as he closes the car door. I have been meaning to write some of these things down in my "motherhood" journal, but typing is so much easier for now.

For weeks after I returned from my Vegas trip he said once a day, "I'm so glad you're back." Heartbreaker!

Crosby will not come out of his room on his own. D and I have been told by MANY people to treasure this habit for as long as possible! He talks to himself and Mama Puppy and Gus until we open the door. And I'll go in and say, "Hi guy! How was your sleep?" For a while he would say, "Mine sleep is weevy good." Now he says, "Good." The baby in him is fading fast!

He is EXTRA detail-oriented. It's not his truck, but his teeny-tiny snow plow dump truck. It's not his notebook, but his teeny-tiny handy dandy notebook.

Here he is on the way home from a string of errands... HAD to hold the chocolate muffins each time he got back in his seat. Can't blame him-



The songs he requests me to sing at night: Mr. Sun, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I am a Child of God, "Temple song," Leafy tree song, Puff, "the other one sun song," Baby Beluga. Requests when D snuggles him in for bed: Dr. Worm. And he still says, "Come go snuggle me." He is just our baby guy. We love him so incredibly much.



D turned 30. UNBELIEVABLE! He says he does not feel that old... surprise surprise! Time is creeping out of sight! Steve took the birthday boy and a handful of special guests to the September 11th U Game :)



Life has been good to us; we are so grateful for so many blessings. Though I feel my life is nothing but me complaining right now, I know it will end soon. Just SOOOO uncomfortable, but such is the last two weeks of pregnancy. I have been a really awful picture-taker... I normally like to document everything! This includes the MOST ADORABLE baby "sprinkle" that my cousin Codi threw for me earlier this month. I am both sad and embarrassed I have no pictures from this. It was outrageously cute with a French theme. Vines hanging with the word "Bebe" spelled within them, wire baskets filled with croissants, the most DELICIOUS asparagus with parmesan cheese, quiche - a new favorite, and fleur-de-lis on each table. Funny that I have an endearing story behind that flower as it was the symbol of my Greek sorority, I happen to love the emblem and flower, and it bears my nickname... coincidence Codi, or planned? Let me know! Once again, thank you, because it was all so perfect and an evening enjoyed by all!

Last Saturday my girlfriends Steph, Aimee, Mirjeta, and Amy "kidnapped" me for a mani/pedi plus Pei Wei. Can I begin to say how wonderful this was?! I have officially reached that point... no toe painting or trimming because of this whopper of a belly. And there was a massage chair and I got a hand massage... and then the Pei Wei... wow, it tasted amazing. So thankful for wonderful, thoughtful friends and family.

Wish I had more blog motivation but I will just post a couple pics from my Vegas trip with my friends from beginning of August... we road-tripped down there to celebrate Steph's 30th, stayed at the JW, drinks by the pool, great laughs/girl chat, delicious food, went to see Phantom. A weekend well-spent, and I loved this group of girls!







Well I guess this is why I have feared blogging lately... it would all end up in choppy bits and pieces. That will probably be my way of blogging for some time now! Just focusing on our little cycle of life until our sweet baby boy bundle decides to show up. We are ANXIOUSLY awaiting...



(36 wks)

Fading

Crosby's tan lines are fading fast, and that means so is Summer... I've tried so hard over the past few months to make sure Croz and I have something to do every day, whether it's going to the zoo or the park or the waterpark or on a walk or a playdate or on a snowcone run, up the canyon, etc. etc. I have been eating up every second with him and I must say he has become my best friend! I thank my lucky stars I get to spend all of the time with him that I do, especially before our new addition comes around. He gets constant reminders that his baby brother will be coming to our house soon and he kind of laughs and scoffs at the idea of it. Then there's the more tender moments, like when he catches a glimpse of my belly button he says, "There's the tunnel... I see my baby brother in the tunnel?" And he will kiss my belly and we become one of those precious sights you see everyone catch on film, with the little one on tiptoes smooching his mama's belly. Although I think minus the tiptoes... we might have a giant on our hands! Crosby is growing so tall and has this maturity about him sometimes that I almost forget he is two.

Well speaking of bellies, mine is quickly becoming quite the conversation piece. My doctor has earned the title "weight nazi," and when trying to find a doc I was a bit apprehensive about going to her for that very reason, but it is only for the good of her patients. One visit I had gained 8 pounds in a month and she grilled me: "So... what are you eating, what can we change..." I have grown to appreciate that she keeps me in check actually. Something she said that has been really helpful that I wish I would have had on my mind with my first pregnancy is: "Carbs make you grow but protein makes the baby grow." She encouraged me to take a swim class and I love it. I have one more 2-weeker and then the visits are every week. Time to get lots of rest before this munchkin shows up! The doc will be in Peru end of September to beginning of October so he better stay put 'til she gets back.

Flickers

These are hardly even thoughts... I call them flickers because they are... well, hardly even thoughts...

-Impending Fall
-Learning to play checkers again
-The fact that I have another PERSON moving inside my body and when I just lie down... it is like I am giving him a chance to grow... he moves SO much compared to Crosby. I find that fascinating because my doctor said that the amount of activity can be based on where the placenta decided to plant
-Want a strawberry surf rider Jamba
-Of course I have the itch to buy our baby boy the cutest clothes. But why do I also have a shopping bug for MYSELF when I'm 8 months pregnant? (I'm not talking maternity outfits)
-How timing plays into basically everything in life
-How glad I am that I'm not an alcoholic or drug addict
-I've lost my appetite for books for a time and I'm not sure why
-While playing with Crosby my hair fell all in my face and he said, "Where's you, Mama?"
-My bladder is made of gauze (maybe that's why... can't sit in one place for more than 5 minutes without having to race to the toilet)
-It seems harder to form habits (good ones like flossing) rather than to break old habits
-I wish I could write music because I think I could write lyrics but I feel that music comes before lyrics
-I can't wait to see my new son

Last Week...

of July!



The Days of '47 Parade is one of my favorites. Cam, Audrey, and fam camped out downstairs at the shop to get a front row seat and see her sister in the marathon in the early morning hours.



I guess I am a parade girl at heart. The jets, national anthem, and bagpipes will always give me chills. Crosby got some patriotic parade genes from me because he would not let go of this little flag we bought him. On the way down to the parade I told him to wave it and say, "Hooray!" and he did just that most of the morning. I also told him a quick story about the pioneers and how they had to leave their homes and walk all the way to this valley but then they were happy to get here and that's why we celebrate Pioneer Day. He said, "Mama I'm so sad," about how they had to walk. I can't believe how much he understands.

Checking out the helicopters-



Lucy and Croz had a great little spot



In their flag-waving glory...



Crosby agreed to wear a hat once he saw that Brig had one on.



He had been playing in a pit of dirty asphalt so his face is all smudged but this is after the parade. Still going strong with the flag-waving. Happy last week of July!

Snap Crackle Pop

I always look forward to July. Where has it gone?!

Here are Crosby and Munga watching the Sugarhouse fireworks...



He just sat there in her lap and giggled as she made "firework" sounds. It was a great memory.



It had been years and years since I had seen some of my cousins. A large group of us met at Utah lake and it was a trip to see their kids, like a time warp. My aunt Alice told a bunch of us to pile in her pickup and she'd take us around the lake...



I don't think I've seen my cousin Lindsay (we have the greatest childhood memories) for YEARS and years. And... four kids later (and one kid for me)... we reunite once again :)



It was fun to have such an extended 4th of July holiday this go 'round... the parties kept comin'!



Tug of war in Beth's back yard



We stuck the youngins in front of the TV for a bit to have a little quiet time and I went in there to take a shot of them but it was on video and I love that I got their cute conversation on tape



Tug of war was ruthless this year



Watching the parking lot fireworks across from Beth's house



Codi and Wendie, don't ask me why but when I glanced at you two sitting together on the lawn, Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" popped into my head. It was a crazy silly moment for me. No rhyme or reason. But look on the playlist... enjoy!



The girls



Crosby is growing like a weed and loves so much to be outside. We've got to get up a couple more times to Silver Lake this summer; he loves it so much. It is a perfect little walk for him around the "boardwalk."



I've taken the ol' frog toilet out a couple of times, but... I have a very uninterested candidate for potty training. First of all, he will not sit anything other than sideways on the toilet (can't blame him!). Second of all, it just turns into a reading chair. Ha! Bye bye for who knows how many more months, Froggie. Or possibly forever.



In seven seconds I will show you the epitome of being two -



He is looking so grown up! I love him so much.



I haven't let Croz do any painting yet; just hadn't thought of it. I got some out the other day and he made quite a work of art. He LOVED using paint.

Wow!

I'm doing a photo project for my good friend Steph's 30th b-day surprise. I have found some blast-from-the-pasts.

I forgot that, even within this same decade, I still wore overalls. Could that be right? No. It is very very wrong. Especially when I noticed Steph's wearing overalls too.



Zion National Park... one of my favorite places ever.



For as long as I can remember we've been going to the Sugarhouse fireworks for 4th of July... we haven't changed much ;)



The night I got engaged Steph was right there for all kinds of fireworks!



Speaking of the past... my brother Steve's band has reunited for a BIG show! Formerly known as The Contingency Plan, The Union Arms will be playing Kilby Court this Saturday night July 10th. Stop by and sing along with all of their originals plus awesome guests, this will be a FUN show!

Fun-Packed Summer

We're trying to do lots of fun things for the first part of the summer before my 7 month mark of pregnancy hits, because I swear that's when I really turn into a hermit. It's a bummer because D has human anatomy this summer. It's such a challenge; having to memorize and study so much. I told him school has to come even before family this semester, so unfortunately he couldn't come to our 2 planned family outings... more on that later.

Crosby and I hitched a ride with Codi and Luce to Carver's Cove petting farm (Eden, UT) and we all enjoyed it SO much!



Croz and Luce were quite a pair for the car ride. Croz would talk some jibberish and Lucy would be in the background like, "What Crosby? What???" Then they were literally SCREAMING half the way back to Salt Lake, they were either really tired or really bored with Codi and me talking about cupcakes. I was surprised to find Croz has no fear in the feeding animals department.



Miss Fashion Plate (aka Lucy) had it just right with the red cowboy boots. I told her to do a little hop-step... she is like a mini Sarah Jessica Parker with all this fashion!



The animals were fun for the adults to look at too... this pig was even larger in person than the picture shows!



I was told that this poor creature on the left was pregnant and who knows how many days or weeks overdue. I was totally feelin' her! And it shows with that crazed look in her eye; didn't want to hang around her too long...



Crosby did enjoy the animals but most of the time while we were there he was trying to climb on tractors and carriages. He wanted to spend forever on the tractor pretending to drive it.



Cute tiny kittens were roaming around



Crosby loves bunnies



Then a horseback riding session too! He seemed so old up there! I had to "assist" because he's under 3.



The look on his face was like, "No sweat. No biggie, just riding a horse."



Or maybe it was putting him to sleep. It was SOOOO cute to see him riding a horse.



Friends



So... D was supposed to come to the lake with us Father's Day weekend but he had to attend study group and study for Monday's big test. I was SOOOOO sad he couldn't go. Pat can usually pull me out of a slump, though



My aunt Julie and uncle Bob are the ones with the boat and we LOVE going... my cousin Elese and crazy driver uncle Bob.



My beautiful cousins came along!



And... drumroll... we got my mom and dad on the boat!



I never fail to surprise myself when it comes to how very idealistic I can be. I went into this - no question - with the thought that I'd for sure be tubing and participating in all the water festivities. I guess I forgot I'm pregnant :(



All right, so it wasn't that major of a feat to get my parents on a boat. But to get them on the tube is another thing! Such a roof-raisin' occasion ;) AND... of all people, my DAD spent a few minutes and then said he couldn't take any more... what?!?! The man I inherited the HUGE adventurous gene from? And my MOM stayed in there forever; she loved it. I was thrilled to pieces... go, Mom!



The wind was RUTHLESS. Seriously... Bob and Julie were going to stay over a second night but had to pack up and leave. After sunscreen and sand, at the end of the day - Crosby was a walking piece of sandpaper. Too bad my camera battery died :( But check out Brooke's hair on this one! These three were going wild out there, I was soooo jealous!



Crosby was completely fried from playing with his trucks in the sand all day so by the time I got him on the boat, he fell asleep as we were going along.



The wind was whipping Becca's hair - so pretty.



So our other summer outing was going to be Panguitch. Last minute we decided to not go, and I was seriously SO SAD about it! Panguitch and Vee and family... we are there every year because it's tradition and it all holds a special place in our hearts. But reality took the reins this time; after not having a kitchen for 2 months and having dreams and fears that this baby might come early, I told D that he had to have that floor done. Not to mention we had 2 wedding receptions and a baby blessing...

Anyway, there's always next year! Lindsay's brother Stephen got married and so we were needed in the babysitting department. It was definitely a preview of what's to come in October! I broke out the Bjorn from storage and a baby swing. D was working so hard to get the floor done on Saturday I don't think we even spoke to each other all day until our Del Taco run at 10:30 pm that night. So... yeah I had to keep telling Crosby, "No! You CANNOT jump on the baby," and "No! Don't swing him so fast." and I'm ALWAYS telling him to lay off my belly. I am so beat up these days; Crosby is a kicker and a jumper and... well, a 2-year-old. I was getting myself ready for weddings, toting Milo in the Bjorn while washing Crosby up and getting him changed and dressed. Wow. Things is gon' be BUSY.



Milo's little wedding outfit - he cleans up nice!



Things were a whirlwind that day, so I am ashamed to say this is the only picture I got... and it's like half the bride or something. Stephen married Mahlet. They met in Ethiopia and it's quite a story. They are an amazing couple!



I put a little ethnic twist on Crosby's wedding garb. I found this gem of an outfit that he received as a gift from D's cousin in Bangladesh. I love him in this, though I didn't get the best shot.



The next day Suman blessed his sweet son Milo at a small gathering at Chatwin's. It was so wonderful. He mentioned in the blessing for Milo to always remember and be aware of the sacrifices made to get him here.



Sabita and new baby grandson



This is the BEST picture of Sabita and her 3 grandkids; when Crosby's done he's done



Have to document. Although I look at this picture and it gives me a good laugh. Is it just me or is my hand on Suman's leg instead of my husband's?



And... ahhhh... our new kitchen floor! I'm so happy! I love it!