In Utah

Our Utah trip was a bit of a whirlwind--we arrived at Jill's in Sandy about 1am and crashed soon thereafter. She had to work early so we got up and took our girls to the Gateway Center to Build-A-Bear and to watch the dancing waters, etc. They were so cranky that we skipped Temple Square and the new Joseph Smith movie (darn it) and took them to Jill's to nap. I had to take Rich to the wedding he was photographing at 3pm, then I headed down to Provo to visit Georgia and Jeanne Buchert. It was a lovely visit, but the traffic was terrible. It took me 90 minutes to drive 35 miles! Each way! The traffic jam cut into our time with the Post cousins and when we finally got to their house, there were babysitters there--mat, Amie, Will, & Audrey had gone to dinner. Not long after I got there, Rich was ready to be picked up at the wedding but my girls were not ready to get back in the car! Addie stayed with Melanie, but I bribed Heidi with a DVD and drove another 20 minutes across town to pick up Rich at Wheeler Farm. We didn't get back to Will's until 10pm, so we just went to bed, exhausted.

We went up to Sundance on Saturday to meet Rich's friend and former roommate, Matt and his family for some fun. We hadn't met Matt's new wife and daughter, so it was fun to hang with them for a while. The cabin where they were staying had a fun hot tub, so our girls got in in their undies. Then they warmed up by the fire and watched the Disney channel while the dads worked outside and the moms visited. We had to head for Pocatello to visit with my dad and our friends Johanna & Andy who have a new baby, Scout. We intended to leave by noon, but lost track of time and left at 2:30! We had to move our visit with the new baby to Sunday morning. Here are some pictures taken at Sundance... Addie, Heidi, and Ellie warming up after their dip in the hot tub.
Matt teaching the girls to gamble on the slot machine in the loft of the cabin.
Our family out in front of the cabin by the creek...we couldn't get the girls to sit still!
Me, Heidi, Ellie, and Addie
Matt & Andra goofing around by the creek.

In Idaho

We got to Dad's about dinner time and he cooked us up some delicious pork ribs, salad, and fresh guacamole! He is such a good cook! We hung out with him for a while, gave the girls baths, and got ready for bed. We made arrangements to visit Joh, Andy, & Scout in the morning, then go to Dad's church and head home at about 2:30pm. We had a good night's sleep and got up at about 7:30am. Dad made us pancakes, eggs, and sausage (we're spoiled) and we headed over to see baby Scout. This is Heidi with Andy and Duke the dog. Their yard is enormous and the girls had a great time playing with Andy--he's reserved, but great with the kids (probably because he's a pediatrician).
That's me with Scout, who is one week old in this picture, and showing off her tongue. I wish this were a picture of Scout with her mom, though--Johanna is a lovely mother.
Here's Addie checking out Scout. We like this picture because it shows off Joh's beautiful new kitchen.
Scout being super cute again.

We had a nice hour-and-a half visit with the Smiths, then headed north back to dad's. On the way Heidi fell asleep, so rather than wake her and suffer through church with her tantruming, we stopped at Dad's, picked up our stuff, and said good bye. Dad lent us his tent trailer for a few month this summer, so we hooked it up and headed home. After a few pit stops, we got home around 6pm. We cleaned out the car and the tent trailer and were so happy to sleep in our own beds!

RANDOM

We are leaving for Utah in mere minutes; Rich is doing a wedding and the girls and I are tagging along for some cousin fun, bargain shopping, temple square, etc. I am feeling almost normal today, so it's a nice day to go on a road trip (sans nausea).

I just have a few random thoughts. First--I really, really love Dole Whole Fruit Bars ("no sugar added"). I can't believe that sometimes I forget how good they are and don't buy them for my "treat." I was torn between a whole box of Coconut bars, or the mixed box of raspberry, strawberry, and tangerine-- I am glad I chose the mixed because I love all three--I had tangerine this morning and I am eating a strawberry now.

Here are some other random thoughts I have picked up lately, mostly from radio or TV.

California spends $10K/year per student in public school vs. $30K/year per prisoner in prison. 80% of inmates are High school drop outs. Do the math…just dollar-wise, doesn’t HS student retention seem like a good investment? How about no drivers licenses or full-time work permits for anyone under 18 or without a diploma? These are ideas I like, but I just wish education didn’t have to happen by coercion. Alas, if that’s what it takes…

A quote from an MSN article about “White Trash Chic”: “White trash still retains the associations of trailer parks, Camaros-up-on-blocks, screaming babies, unemployment, public drunkenness, lack of education or social skills — but not the social stigma.” Oh, really? So I guess I am living in the new fashion hot spot of the universe…well, the hottest place north of the Mason-Dixon line. And I am hoplessly OUT of style.

“A mother who radiates self-love and self-acceptance actually vaccinates her daughter against low self-esteem.” –Naomi Wolf

Wow. I could write a whole other post about that Naomi Wolf quote... it has made me think twice about all the things I say in front of my daughters--an ongoing subject in my self- and family-improvement efforts. Regardless of what I'd hope I'd be or how I wanted to look, or what I am good or not good at, I HAVE TO come to terms with WHO I AM RIGHT THIS MINUTE (and how I look, and what I do, etc.) so I can "vaccinate" them against all the crap girls fall for when they don't love themselves. Self-respect begins with me. (see this post for more about my ever-present concern for my daughters).

Okay, time to load up. Pictures and travel log coming soon.

The Wee One

In case you can't tell, this is our baby's fuzzy profile. We learned may good things from the ultrasound this morning, like:

• The baby has a big head and brain
• The baby has a nice spine that is fully connected in all the right places
• The baby has a 4-chamber heart, two kidneys, a tummy, and a full bladder
• The baby likes to suck on its hands and kicks like a donkey
• The baby does indeed have two arms, two legs, and digits

AND...

while no one will say for sure, The baby appears to be a BOY! Yep. So break out the blue, and let's celebrate! I celebrated early by getting a great haircut and highlights last night. Nothing like an evening of beauty and a healthy ultrasound to make a pregnant mommy feel WAY-better!

PS: HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my nephew JACK-A-RACK! He's two today and such a sweet boy--we love you, Jacky! And HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to my "Other Mom," Ellen Buchert on 4/23, my brother-in-law, Davey, and my brother, Marshall, on 4/24. Addie said, "My two uncles have birthdays today? Awww...I love my uncles, all my uncles...the grown up ones AND my little-kid uncle!" (Marshall turned 7).

More Saturday

I took this picture while taking the girls on a drive Saturday. It's just south of town as you head toward the Pop Stand...that's Livingston Peak.
I took this picture about 2 miles and 5 minutes after that first cloudy one...weird, huh? This is the entrance to Paradise Valley, about 5 miles south of town, just before the East River Road turn off.
After we played at the park, the girls went over to the creek to feed the ducks some bread and popcorn. There were ducks, geese, and swans, but we try to feed the ducks the most because the geese and swans are bullies. Addie liked the swans' black feet.

By the way, it's Monday morning and it's still snowing. I had to go get some milk earlier and I about froze to death--I thought it was warm enough for just a fleece, but no--it's 31 degrees and very windy ("feels like 18"). But it's supposed to be 60 degrees and sunny tomorrow and 75 degrees by Friday. Whatever! Gotta love spring in Montana!

Busy Saturday

Rich put in all our fence posts on Saturday--it took him 9 hours of work! To keep the girls out of his hair, I took them on a little adventure to the park and on a drive. After lunch and nap time, Addie and I had a bubble bath, too. We even talked Daddy into taking one later because he was so sore from all that hard work. We sure appreciate him and we can't wait to have a fence! Addie at the park
Heidi on the slide at the park
Silly Heidi in the tunnels

Addie and Heidi enjoy the tire swing at Sacajawea Park

Mommy and Addie enjoy a bubble bath...I love my tub!

By the way, it got up to 70 degrees on Saturday--Addie even played int he sprinkler with the neighbor kids--and today, once again, we woke up to SNOW, and we still have flurries! Crazy spring weather in Montana! At least it's beautiful.

Check Up

I had my regular OB check up yesterday. All seems to be well, baby's heart beating loudly on the doppler, belly measuring right-on for 18 1/2 weeks (baby is supposedly 10 inches long from head to heel--wow!). My active blood pressure is still totally out of control--they take it once when I walk in and again after I sit there for a while--the first one was 156/100 (!!!!) and the second was 128/80. What the freak! I was told to keep taking my BP at home twice a day and come back to report every two weeks because if it stays above 145 when I am active, they will put me on "rest." Which is so totally practical when I am home alone with two little kids each day. I am praying that it will all balance out SOON!

I also logged the crazy head/body aches/vomiting I have been having every 6-7 days since early March. The doctor looked at the list of symptoms and told me that it looked like my migraines had returned (I haven't really had them much since I was about 24) and that I had been lucky because most migraine sufferers get them way worse during pregnancy. Of course there is no medicine I can take right now besides Tylenol, naps, backrubs, and tub soaks, so I guess I will carry on!

We have our diagnostic ultrasound on Wednesday 4/26, so we should know which kind of baby we are having in a week! We are so excited! I don't know if I blogged it, but a couple of weeks ago, I dreamt that I had my 20-week ultrasound and it was a huge baby boy--so huge that they delivered it by c-section at 21-weeks! Wishful thinking, I know--who wouldn't love a healthy 21-week pregnancy!?

Spring, my eye!

It's snowing, and it's BEEN snowing since the sun came up (or maybe even before that). Addie had her date with Grandma today and they built a snowman. Heidi was not so lucky--she had to stay home with me and all I let her do was play in the snow on the deck.
She likes eating snow almost as much as dirt!

I should have pix of the girls in their Easter dresses later today--we took them with my mom-in-law's camera--they looked really cute in their matching Laura Ashley lilac dresses!

Easter Sunday

Addie & Heidi at Grandma's
Heidi, Cousin Danny, & Addie
Addie & Heidi again

They also hid eggs at Grandma's House on Sunday...Heidi was an old pro at finding eggs!

Addie, Danny, & Heidi search the sandbox for more Easter eggs.

Easter Fun

Addie & Heidi discover their baskets Sunday morning...

Our Bunnies