Mac's First Hike

Returning to California was wonderful. 

But really mostly because Mark is here. 

(Going away is nice ...... who doesn't enjoy being missed?)

With Mark being alone, losing his mind, surviving on peanut butter and ESPN, basically crippled without us (my words, not his .... but that's the feeling I got), and missing the mountainous splendor of Utah, we just had to go for a hike.

The closest mountains here are an hour away (without traffic) and the trails actually have cabins along them ... so it wasn't quite the same, but I think it did a lot for Mark's wounded soul.  Just look at that face.

Thank you Curtis and Rachelle, for the sweet vintage baby-pack thing.

Mac loved it.

We were sure to stay hydrated.

It was pretty intense hacking through the bush on those barely visible trails, but somehow we made it.

And we discovered a glorious waterfall at the end.

Mac was just excited to splash around.  So was Mark.

Logan was great, but it is really nice to have my little family all together again.  Home is undoubtedly wherever they are.

Thank You Logan

Another wonderful trip to Logan.  Thank you mother, for the plane ticket.  And .... everything else.

 Thank you for introducing Mac to the thrill behind the wheel.

I think he was definitely feeling the magic.

 

 Thank you Bumpa, the moment we got there you insisted upon picking berries fresh from the garden for Mac to enjoy.  He surely did.  You made sure Mac experienced the finest nature could offer, including the neighbor's horse, and the ducks.

 Thank you for not letting them eat his toes ... too much.

Thank you Jamie, Jake, Trent, and Rachel .... you smothered Mac with love and he is definitely missing it now.

Thank you for staying up late talking to me ... about everything, really.  Thank you for taking forty five minutes to get ready for bed, and then talking until the sentences just don't make sense any more.

Thank you Bumpa, for having nice soft grass.  Thank you Jake, Trent, and Rachel for mowing it.  We miss soft grass.

Thank you to Kenzi, Lori, Paige, and Brooke for coming up to see us!  The timing could not have been better and it has been far too long since we last talked.  You are all amazing women, I look up to every single one of you.  Paige, Kenzi .... it is time.

Thank you to all the wonderful friends we saw when we were there!  Jen came to the good old Logan temple with me.  That place just holds a special place in my heart.  Thank you to the original four, we spent about 8 hours talking.  Though we never got around to hiking, we did change scenery.  Jessi's apartment was perfect (very Jessi-ish), then Mama made us some fabulous curry, and being at the Bowen's reminded me of my childhood.  I sure do love you girls, it was so good to catch up.

Beautiful Brittney took some time away from her crazy moving process to get a jamba with me!  I am just so glad that we were roommates and became friends ... every time I talk to her I wonder why in the world we weren't best friends all through high school.  Isn't it funny how afterwards sometimes you get to know people, and wonder what in the world had kept you apart all these years?  Where had they been all your life??  Funny how hard it is to really truly get to know people in high school when you barely are getting to know yourself.

More wonderful friends ... Holly was good enough to make us an amazing waffle/whip cream/fruit breakfast and invite over her sister Heather and another roommate ... Jaclyn!  These girls are so fun to talk to.

It is so fun to get to know each other again on a "mommy-level" -- if you will -- and compare it to the person you knew as a crazy teenager.  I love seeing how we all have grown up. 

Lacy is my newest mommy-friend, and she was good enough to bring little Abby over to meet us!  Abby is adorable, and Lacy is a top-notch mom.  Abby absolutely melts Lacy, and I loved to see it.  They are a beautiful, wonderful little family. 

Chelsea and Boston drove all the way from Salt Lake -- on her husband's birthday -- to come and see us!  I wish we would have had more time, but it was so nice to talk face to face a little.  I have loved hashing out the fears/thrills/hopes/etc. of mommyhood with her over the phone, but it was extra wonderful to do it in person for a little while.  I really want these boys to be buddies.  Why don't we live closer?  I don't know if we ever will.

Thank you to all the people who called and texted and wrote, sending love and attempting to get together .... it was so nice and I'm sorry I did not have more time!

We did however, at the very end, get to see Sarah's new apartment, where she will rule Utah State University.  I am excited to witness her reign, it is sure to be epic.

So thank you Logan, you were good to me growing up, and you still have never failed me.  I just love you.

And thank you for making it through this entire post.  Whew.

Ashu

I talked to this wonderful Indian gal the other day at Borders. 

I was bored, so Mac and I had shoved off to oogle at all the books and get ideas of what we want to read next.  Once I had a stack, we headed back to the kid corner and proceeded to cruise around the mini furniture.  Lo and behold, another little dude comes crawling right for Mac's wobbly feet, and wow -- that kid could move!

His beautiful mother swooped him up (why are all Indian women gorgeous?) and we began talking.  Her little guy's name was Ashu (like you're sneezing) and he was only about three weeks older than Mac.  She had another gorgeous little girl ... but I can't remember her name, it wasn't quite as easy as her brother's ... she was probably seven or eight.

We got talking about our kids, things we feed them, things they like, don't like, and developmental stuff.  "Do you have him registered for classes yet?"  Classes??  The kid is ten months old, for crying out loud!  She explained:  "I had my daughter in several Gymboree classes when she was six months old."  Gee whiz.  I told her Mac has 17 cousins who teach him a lot, and she laughed and agreed that was more than enough.

We then got talking about what we were worried about.  It was really fun to see how mothers across all cultures are very much the same.  We all worry.  She was nervous because her boy didn't have a single tooth yet, and my prime source of concern was ... guess ... no crawling.  I explained to her everything I had heard about brain development, reading skills, etc. etc. etc., and she just laughed.  "Oh no, no, no!  Don't listen to that.  My daughter here, she never ever crawled.  And I prefer it that way.  She started walking around ten months, (same as Mac) and was a little hesitant because she was so far from the ground. (Same as Mac.)  She didn't eat things up off the floor, and she was just much easier to be around.  Crawling is nothing but stress!  I wish Ashu had never learned!  And don't worry about reading.  All that matters is that you read to him and help him develop a love for it.  My daughter is the top reader in her class, she is very good at it and loves do it."  I loved to hear her say that.  And she was right, her daughter read to Mac the entire time we were there.  She was wonderful.

She also told me about how now is the prime time for Mac to start learning little things.  She showed me her son's latest trick:  in her native language she would say, "How big are you?"  And he would shoot both hands and eyebrows up into the air.  It was hilarious.  Oh, and he also had a little soft mustache already.  Mac and I really enjoyed Ashu.

So, we have been learning some new tricks.  And I have two very adorable videos, but they are not uploading.  Sigh.  One involves waving hello while eating a saltine, and the other involves clapping.  It took going to an Angel's game (courtesy of our saintly landlord) and watching 450,000 clapping to figure it out, but he has got it down, and now does it all day long.

Thank you, Farmer's Market

Home grown berries are delicious, and fun to eat.

A little less fun to clean up.

An Approaching Trip to Logan

The other day my mom called me and said, "Allie!  I put a big item on our credit card, so we've earned another plane ticket!  But I only have one, so how can we get you up here without making Mark feel bad?"  Well it just so happens that Mark had told me to plan on never seeing him over this next break between semesters, as he had boards coming and would be studying like a madman.  Problem solved.  The situation could not be more perfect.
So, Mac and I will be heading up there in about a week.

I am thrilled.

So thrilled in fact, that I am having trouble doing much besides thinking about Logan.  In reality, we have been doing a lot of fun things lately.

Like yard sale-ing.  I'm finally getting into a little haggling.  I think it should be a sport.
Or grocery shopping.  I actually really do enjoy this:  it's free (thank you, tax-paying Californians), Mac loves the shopping cart/big lights/cool air conditioning/things that make interesting noises when you pat them/people, and people love Mac.
We are learning a lot about sharks lately.  Most notably, that their skin is super pointy when you rub them from tail to head.  This is because their skin is just an extension of the rows and rows of TEETH in their mouths.  They have TEETH SKIN.  (And somehow these scientists are trying to convince us that sharks aren't killing machines?)  Also, sharks can fly, and if you get bitten by one, it won't even hurt until you're actually on land and realize you are still alive.  Thank you, Discovery Channel, for all this important information.  (Seeing as one of the shows documented shark attacks on a beach that we happen to frequent!!  I will never touch that water ever again.)
Mac and I are real clubbers these days.  Mom's club, craft club, and now .... I have started a book club.  First meeting is this Thursday, and we will be discussing the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  I am so very excited.  I have also started getting together with a couple girls once a month to watch Jane Austen type movies.  Being a stay-at-home mom is so rewarding.
Watched Mark prepare for finals by growing a beard.  I am excited to see his finals mustache.  It is sure to be glorious.
Mac has almost got walking down.  And he has started crawling .... sort of.  He can't seem to keep his head up, so he pumps his legs and pushes his head along the ground until he runs into something.  Then he pulls himself up and walks around.  It's a very enjoyable process to watch.
We got to listen to not one, but five entire marching bands practicing outside our house for the Corn Festival down the street.  This would have been fun, had it not been Mac's nap time.  As it was, I was practically shaking with fury.
And last night, I got the pedicure of my life.  I had bought a toe ring from the corn festival (Katie, this one will last forever), had just taken off the polish and shaped them all nice and pretty, when Mark came down the stairs with some lotion.  What does that mean?  Well, to us lotion means massages.  The boy just figured he would give me a little foot massage!  Bless his heart.  And so he did, and then suggested we pull out some ice cream.  Oh my.  I now have a happy belly, a full heart, and awesome-looking toes.

So, I can wait to go to Logan.  One more week.
 

So this guy married this girl ...

... and they are doing surprisingly well.  But they were obviously destined for eternal bliss, judging by these fantastic excerpts:

(Taken from an English assignment from 1999 entitled "Ideal Family" Mark's mom saved and recently gave to me:)

"When I grow up and get a family of my own there are a few things that I will try my hardest to make sure that my family has.  The most important thing is that we all love each other and get along well.  The smaller details are that we will have lots of money, a nice house, car, pool ..... My wife has to be a hottie, she has to be a good person that wants to do what is right.  She will have to ... be a member of my church ... be very patient with me because sometimes I am a little slow ... love me enough to pick up my messes when I forget to and not get mad over nothing ... she has to be honest with me and I will be honest with her ... but she really has to be someone that I can just look at her say, 'Dang girl, the curves on you just do not stop.'  [We would have] the coolest kids, I would teach them how to do everything, the boys will play football and baseball, they will be really good but really smart at the same time ... they will be the mac daddy's of their school.  The girls will be cheerleaders or play sports, it will be up to them.  They will be smart and they won't be tomboys at all, their mom will show them that they are girls not boys and how girls are supposed to act."

(Taken from one of my journals from 1999, it has blue dolphins on the cover:)

"I think you should know, I'm giving up precious sleeping minutes for you!  Whoever you are.  If you are my husband, HELLO HOTTIE!  I'm sure you're a gorgeous guy.  And smart.  And funny.  And athletic.  AND MORMON.  (I'll kill myself if you aren't!)  If you are my kids, hello babes!  (You must be adorable if you're related to me!  JUST KIDDIN'!)  Isn't it amazing that I was a kid once too?  That I had crushes on guys?  Guess I'm not totally alien, huh?

..... I never want to hear ANY man say "women are weak".  So I try to prove that I'm just as tough as any guy.  I don't know who I'm trying to prove myself to, but I do it anyway.

..... You know what?  I want my husband to [know how to] catch, clean, and cook fish ... to shoot ... to hunt rabbits ... to go hiking ..."   (please insert hearts at the bottom of every exclamation point)

 (You should probably be aware that Mark was 16 and very sarcastic, and I was 12 and still utterly obsessed with Pocahontas.)


Apparently we were just made for each other.

More meat please

Mac had a doctor's appointment today.  Things are looking good .... except that he is almost anemic.  I was quite surprised.  I guess there is a range that the iron content in your blood should fall into, and Mac's is as low as it can be and still be in the "okay" range.  The doctor informed me that because I am still nursing him, if he is low, that means I am even lower.

Hm.

Mark was teasing me the other day because I had watched a little segment on the news on anemia and informed him that I must have it.  The simple symptom of fatigue brought me to this conclusion.

Perhaps I am not a complete hypochondriac.

Or maybe I am just a mom.  And a little dramatic.

The doctor suggested lots of beans, spinach, red meat, and vitamins ... all of which I already eat and will now be giving to Mac regularly.  I hope I haven't ruined him!

I still a bit confused on how it all happened though.  Anyone have experience with this?

10.5 Months

I think perhaps being around his cousins has inspired Mac to actually want to do a few things for himself.  It seems that he finally realized there is a lot to be done outside your parents' arms.  More or less.  He undoubtedly prefers to be held, but he is also discovering quite a bit.  For example:

• You do not need a human finger to pull yourself up to things.  Chairs, tables, stools, and drawers are all suitable.

• Getting up on all fours is great to help you roll even farther.  (Crawling is still nonexistent.)
• Waving hello makes people crazy with excitement.  (We are very popular at the grocery store.)

• Feeding yourself is a much more satisfying experience than getting food shoveled in by parentals.  Plus you generally get tasty grown-up food instead of the boring, mashed up baby food. So put a towel under my chair, roll up my sleeves, cover me in plastic, and hand over all forks and spoons.  I'm a big kid now.
• Walking is exciting, but you really only need to take three or four steps before you will be close enough to dive into your waiting parent's arms.  Sometimes their arms are not waiting though, and dive bombing is a little less enjoyable.

• Four new teeth all at once is the pits ... but it is sure fun to grind them together and watch your mom squirm.

• Screaming gets people's attention much quicker.  Why not do it all day?
• Ladies are very nice to stare at.  And grin at.  And blush at.  
• Lots of hair is lots of fun, but hair cuts are not.  We have experienced five so far.
• "Caps for Sale" is, hands down, the greatest book ever, stuffed animals the greatest toys, and watching parents pop the binky out of their mouths is probably the most hilarious game ever invented.

3rd Anniversary

Happy anniversary to us!

Three years ago on the 28th, we were dashing around from place to place, grinning till our faces fell off, giddy, emotional, and exhausted .... and it has only gotten better.  Of course there are times when we really bother each other, but I even like that part a little (generally after the fact).  It is so very real. 

And what did we do to celebrate?

We forgot all about it.

So we had the missionaries over for dinner.  But that was even fun, they love talking about love.

Then Mark remembered, and got me some flowers. 

He doesn't do that much, so it was quite special.  Sorry I didn't get you anything .... but it ended up being a good day.  ;)