Call Me Crazy.

It snowed yesterday and today. I was about to take a shower when I looked out the window and noticed that our driveway needed to be shoveled. So I told the kids to be good (yeah right) and I put on my boots, barely got my coat buttoned around my big baby belly and headed out into the cold to shovel. It was so nice.

Growing up, I loved to shovel the snow. I remember one year Kim, Lindsey and I think Ali and I shoveled our whole circle. Not just everybodys driveways, but the actual road as well was cleared up. Kim and I enjoyed ourselves, but I don't think Linds liked doing it very much. Anyway, I have always felt like shoveling snow is sort of therapeutic for me. I guess it is weird, but to each his own right?

So I am outside feeling the cold on my face and the weight of the snow on the shovel as I pile it to one side or the other. It is quiet (for once) with no kids asking for this and that and It is strenuous, but not too much to handle. It feels good. I saw a neighbor look at me strangely, and I guess it must be strange to see an 8 months pregnant girl outside shoveling with a big smile on her face. I also thought it strange though for all I saw pass me by and not offer to assist the said pregnant girl. After all, It is a chore for most people, and sometimes it isn't easy with how wet the snow is here. So here is a shout out to the wonderful snow that came our way, cleared out the nasty inversion and let me have a few minutes of therapeutic peace.

The good things about shoveling:
1.Randy loves it when he comes home and doesn't have to do it. I like to make him smile.
2.I think that might count as my workout for the day?
3. I get a few minutes (or 45 min) to myself. ahhhhhh..

Drawbacks to the shoveling:
1. I had to stop every time I had a contraction.
2.I didn't have enough energy at the end to do the sidewalks, just the driveway.

I think David's blog is rubbing off on me...

Because I thought this was pretty funny.

My Hypnobirth Video

Here is MY personal hypnobirth video. (don't worry, it isn't graphic; it just shows the labor and that is it. I am so excited to do it again! And other than me looking so uh....pretty, it is fun to watch.

We only did short clips during the labor because Randy needed to help me concentrate. It ends kinda fast because the baby came only a few minutes after the last video was shot. my labor lasted about 4 and 1/2 hours and was awesome. enjoy.

Hypnobirthing pt. 2

Because I have had a lot of questions from all you pregnant girls out there, I thought I would show a couple of videos about hypnobirthing. We actually watched these (among other videos) in our hypnobirthing classes. This gives a pretty good description of what it is like. It is an old video, but It is probably one of my favorites. Anyway, if you have a few minutes, give it a watch.

"I Hope It's The Carpet Guy!"

Hallelujah! We got carpet in our basement!!! I am so freaking excited, I don't know what to do with myself. It was funny because when Ty went downstairs to see it, I found him in his new bedroom on his stomach laying on the floor and just moving his arms like he was swimming in the new carpet. so funny. Randy has been working on the basement now for just over a year. yeah, he started from just a little bit of framing done and now look at it! All 900 square feet of extra space! Amazing. He is awesome. It is all Randy! good job babe. I love you. hopefully, we can get some finishing work done so I can get the room upstairs ready for my little girl (who is coming soon whether we are ready or not.)
FYI, the color of the carpet is tan/brown. it looks sort of pink in the photos for some reason. it is called "peanut brittle" and has a lot of different colors in it. it is a little bit shaggy and pretty soft. So come visit us and you can see it for yourself! Yay for carpet!

BTW, for all you orange haters, you can go sit on a pin. I like my orange room. (It looks a little brighter in the pictures than it actually is.) Even so, I love it and Randy likes it.

Must be a Dad thing?

Last night before Randy and I went to bed, we checked in on our sweet boys. I love to watch them sleep because they are so sweet and they can't tear up the house or make me crazy. So I gently touch their little heads and place a kiss on their cheeks. You know, like most moms do. So what does Randy do in this sweet tender moment of unconditional love for our little ones? He goes up to Jake and just tickles his belly. not softly mind you he seriously just rocked his belly from side to side and made a loud grunting noise. when he didn't wake up at all, Randy then decided he would mess with my little boys head and move it from side to side. Again, he didn't even stir. So what does Randy do next? he pulls out the pacifier. What does Jake do? Wakes up immediately and screams "HEY! NO!" and puts the pacifier back into his mouth and falls back asleep. Randy of course thinks this is hilarious. I'm just looking at Randy with my mouth hanging open in disbelief. Why would someone do that? why would you deliberately TRY to mess with a sleeping child? It must be a guy/dad thing.

For Ali

My sister Ali asked me at Christmas how Jacob gets in and out of his crib. For everyone that has "older children" you know it goes smoother for some kids than others. Jacob isn't very good at the getting in part, but getting out is very easy for him. see for yourself.

We watched this over and over and laughed so hard at his not so graceful "fall" into bed. This is actually the worst I have seen him do it. he usually doesn't fall on his head, but his side. ah well, makes for a funny video. Too bad I can no longer trap him though. kinda stinks. He can also open doors. which is worse.
We plan on moving him to a bed in the next month or so when the basement is finished/before the baby comes. He and Tyler are very excited about the prospect of a bunk bed.

Did you Know?

Tyler says Monkeys grow up to be Gorillas and Tigers grow up to be Lions. I honestly cannot convince him otherwise. He is right and I am wrong and apparently one of his arguments is that "my Daddy told me that" I sure hope he is lying otherwise I'm not sure about the man I married.
I remember when we went to Yellowstone this summer and I read a pamphlet about weird questions people have about the animals and one question was something like: "what time of year do the Elk turn into Bison?" I was laughing so hard. Now I understand they must have gotten their information from my misinformed son.

I guess it is a good thing we got a Zoo pass for Christmas right? It looks like we are in desperate need of some investigating.

"What is this game called?... I WIN!"

I won tickets to see an advanced screening of "Bride Wars." That in and of itself isn't that extremely cool, but through the TV show "Good Things Utah" I have won 14 things in the last 4 years. The really funny thing is, I haven't watched the actual show for a long time. I mostly just go on their website every once in a while and sign up for whatever they are giving away. I usually sign up for things that I don't think most people will sign up for ie: a Rated R movie (here in good ole' Utah, nobody signs up for it.) and if I win, I take it to Wal-Mart for a sweet 20 bucks. But I have won some pretty cool things:

“My country to defend” book

Miche bag (purse $50 value!)

The English patient DVD

The pirates of the Caribbean DVD

Free movie tickets (4)

Free movie tickets (4)

Mommys market tickets

Haunted railroad tickets

Free groceries (grocery guru $100 worth)

Green pearl Necklace

Motown CD

Children’s party tickets

Hannah Montana DVD

Free Movie Tickets (4)

I have yet to win the $500 pot and pan set that they give away once or twice a year, but then again everyone wants that one. Randy has become a finalist in their Lexington heights Dental free teeth makeover three times. They usually do free lumeneers or veneers which would be awesome! (He didnt' try again this year for some reason though I guess he is sick of getting in the top 2 or so and having them pick someone else)
Anyway, so I saw "Bride Wars" on Tuesday night with my friend Nancy. We had a lot of fun. It was a very cute movie with a lot of funny parts. It was a little over the top, but that is what I expected. I love Kate hudsen and Ann Hathaway almost as much as I love a night out with the girl(s). don't know that I would pay 7 bucks to see it, but it is definately worth a $1 redbox rental. if you want more info you can go to http://www.bridewars.com/

BTW, don't start signing up for things just because I win every once in a while. I don't need the extra competition. you probably won't win anyway. :)

Tyler's Latest craft project.

Every 1st Saturday of the month, Home Depot does kids crafts and this month the made football helmet bookends. Tyler loved it. When he went with his daddy to do the craft, he came home and said he "loves Daddy-Tyler time" so cute. they get little home depot aprons and pins to put on them each time they do a project. Tyler's paint job wasn't originally BYU themed; it was ninjas, but after he painted the "ninja?" he said it looked bad so he was frustrated and asked me to help him. I suggested blue on blue with the Y. Needless to say, he loved my brilliant idea! (I guess the example one at Home Depot was U of U red and Randy got a lot of crap for wearing a BYU shirt that day) He loves them and won't let Jacob go near them. I'm very proud of my crafty little boy. It would be awesome if he got into woodworking when he gets older. He could make his mama all kinds of cool stuff.

Tyler Says...

Me: "Ty, I am going to go take a shower. Will you please watch Jacob?"

Ty: "OK, but can I play a game on the computer?"
Me: "can you watch Jacob AND play the computer?"
Ty: "Yeah, Yeah!"
Me: "OK Watch Jakey!"
I leave to go get in the shower, but before I turn on the shower I hear
Ty say: "Jacob! DO NOT do anything you are not supposed to so I can play my game!"

Wow, if only I had known sooner all I had to do was tell Jake not to do anything naughty so I could "play my game" my life would've been so much easier these last 2 years. Amazing.

Drugs? Who needs Drugs?

I thought since I constantly have pregnancy updates and pregnancy announcements given to me all the time (the count is 19 pregnancies again!) I would give a shout out to one of my top 3 must-have books*. 'Hypnobirthing The Marie Mongan Method" is the way I chose to give birth to Jacob and I am really excited to do it again with this baby. It is an interesting technique of birthing that teaches you self-hypnosis. The theory is that fear causes tension and tension causes pain. So therefore, if you take out the fear in birthing, you can birth your baby without any pain. It sounds crazy I know. But I also know that I have done it once and it totally worked for me! You learn relaxation techniques so you don't tense up during labor and you keep relaxed through the whole thing so you don't need or even want drugs or other interventions. I actually never even thought about asking for anything during my labor with Jacob. Anyway, I could go on and on about the book/CD/Classes, but I guess if you would like more information, you can go to www.hypnobirthing.com . I would also send you my personal hypnobirthing story via e-mail if you would like it. It is awesome and totally worth it. I had a not so good birth experience using Lamaze and an epidural with Tyler (it hurt a lot) and a great experience with the natural labor Hypnobirth with Jacob (didn't hurt). If I can do it anybody can. Anyway, give it a read!

*the other two books in my top 3 are "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey and "Good Night Sleep tight" by Kim West.

FYI: 97% of women in Utah opt for an epidural for their babies births. interesting.

18 maybe, but 20 baby

Even though the pregnancy count is down to 18, the babies expected are up to 20 thanks to two of my friends who decided they are having twins instead of one at a time. Congratulations to Lindsey and Whitney! I am so excited for you guys.