Like What You've Got

Last time I complained about the weather, Mark told me to quit wishing for whatever I did not have. 

Alright, Mr. Mature, I haven't complained.  For a little bit.

But how can I help it?  I walk into stores filled with colorful fall decorations, bursting pumpkins, and smells of wassail and spices.  It reminds me of crisp mornings, crunchy leaves, and picking through gardens.  I miss school clothes and football games.  (Live ones, there are plenty on our t.v. and those don't count.)  Mostly though, I just miss the change in weather. 

I guess I should be more specific, I miss the decrease in temperature.  Because when I walked out from that store the other day, it was a blistering 112 degrees, with a 40% humidity.  That crushed every happy fall memory flat.  Instead of pulling out jackets and wassail, I found myself setting out fans, putting Mac down for his nap in our downstairs bathroom, and either giving him a cold bath, or soaking his hair.  All day.

Come on fall.  I miss you.

I'm sure when it cools down I'll be wishing it was warmer.  That's just the nature of this beast, I suppose.  I'm sure Mark will help me reign it in though, he always does.  People just aren't supposed to be alone, are they?

Swiss Days 2010

We were thinking we should probably not go to Swiss Days this year.  It is the Gunn family tradition for everyone to come, run the 5k, win lots of medals/drawings, do the parade, and play all weekend -- but we thought we should save the money and stick around.

Unfortunately, Mark hasn't left California since ... since .... hm.  I don't think he's left since Christmas ...?  Oh, we went to St. George for Adam's homecoming.  Alright, he's spent two days outside of L.A. since Christmas.  And he's been in school the entire time.

He's going a little bit crazy.

So, even without the urging from Mama Gunn, Mark informed me that he really needed a break, and I was more than happy to go!

We were able to leave Thursday night (Mac didn't sleep one wink ... don't know how I feel about this forward facing car seat!), get some one-on-one time with Chris late that night (which is actually a big deal, as she is matriarch to thirty-one people), and wake up to the tantalizing smell of pumpkin pancakes ... which I didn't have to cook.  Thank you, Heidi!

The weekend was wonderful.  Good food, great people, an intense parade, and a great 5k.  I took first place.  Among the women.  Who were pushing strollers.  (That would be 106th place over all .... shhhh.)  But I finished in 29:17 seconds, boooo ya!  I was excited about that.  On the other side of the spectrum, we witnessed the worst day ever, which included wrecked cars, broken couches (which were newly purchased and being taken home), and lots of poo.  Definitely qualified for a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day.  But it ended with Telestrations, my new FAVORITE game.  Someday I will have it, and you will play it with me.

And then of course, whenever the Gunn clan gets together there is lots and lots and lots of awesome cousin time.

Mac adores these dogs.  And they adore kids.  Every grandma should have dogs like Molly and Sparky.

Sparky taught Mac all about playing catch.

Thanks Gracie ... she is three, and she took this.  I think it's one of my new favorites.

Best cousins!  If I have anything to say about it, anyway. 

Who didn't sneak into their grandparent's sweet car and push all the buttons and move all the mirrors?

 After we had gotten home and Mark had returned from school, I asked him how it went -- fully expecting the typical shrug and sigh.  But he said, "It was refreshing."  Woah.  Thanks St. George, you were just what Mark needed.  Bring it on, SCUHS.

Sisters in Law

When you have married into a family of six brothers and two sisters, you get seven amazing women to hang out with.  Well let me tell you, the Gunn women are truly amazing.

Being the emotional, over-analytical, quietly dramatic gal that I am, it is easy to feel awe, aspiration, and even envy of these lovely ladies.  There is something special about the sister-in-law relationship that somehow, for me, seems to strike at my self confidence.  I think it's because they have all married men so much like my Mark, and so I love seeing their relationships with their Gunn boys.  I remember as a newlywed seeing all their fabulous marriages and worrying to death that somehow I would not be for Mark what they were to their spouses.

But three years of marriage and one baby later, I have finally gained some confidence.  I really think I have a fantastic marriage, and a lot of it has been thanks to these great ladies and their examples.  Mark has an incredible ability to really appreciate people for their strengths, instead of merely coveting them.  It's something I have been working on my whole life, and only now am I starting to feel it happening a little more often!

So instead of wishing I had Heidi's drive, Danika's sweet humor, Katie's sharp wit, Rachelle's awareness of others, and Sarah's humble confidence, I can appreciate it in them.

But let's be honest, I still envy them a little.

Squire

King Arthur?  Pfffshh.  King MacAlister sounds better.

And I'm pretty sure Mark could take on Merlin any day.  He's seen the movie enough, he knows all his moves ... so when Merlin becomes a disease, Mark would just adjust himself, drink a ton of water, and Merlin would be flushed right out of there.  Top that.

Mac Hits the Gym

We usually go the school gym, where Mark works, during lunches.  We bring food and I either eat with him, work out, or go run errands.  The other day I went for a jog, and when I came back, Mark had Mac doing ladders up and down the basketball court.

A bit of wrestling.

An intense game we like to call "soccetball". 

A few leg curls... or arm curls?

And some dexterity training.  He loves to put balls in things.

I wish I could enjoy the gym as much as this kid does.

It's Nice to Have Friends

It is especially nice to have friends that you have made as a couple.

Does that make sense?  I love love love all my pre-Mark friends, but post-Mark friends are friends with us because they like us us. 

Today I went yard sale-ing with Janae.

We went to Matt's first birthday party.

I cheered with the girls for Mark and the boys in church softball.

And we abandoned our kitchens and introduced the Bias' to Mongolian BBQ.

Mark said to me the other day, "I am finally feeling like I really like California.  I'm getting all settled."  (At that moment we were driving home, and shortly after the comment we got stuck in traffic.  So he took it back.  But that's beside the point.)  I think this has a lot to do with the wonderful people we are able to be with.  We love our ward, Mark's classmates, and all the fun/crazy/kind/scary people we see every day around here.

Doula

If you're like me (up until about a year ago) you are wondering what in the world a doula is.  Well this website will give you all the in-depth information you need, but here is my summary:  A doula is a woman who is there for the woman during pregnancy, labor, and the first couple weeks after the birth.  She is there to educate the mother while pregnant, coach her through labor, and get the hang of having a new little one around.  She does NOT replace a doctor or midwife -- or husband -- she is only there to help the mother figure out what she wants/needs. 

I think I might become one.

Mark sent me an email with all this information.  His school is hosting a doula to come and teach a short weekend course on the basics, and then afterwards you are encouraged to start trying to get a little experience and given the rest of the steps to certify.  I'm thinking I might have to take this opportunity.  Mark said (mostly joking), "This seemed right up your ally.  Your always trying to help your friends out with life, so you might as well get paid for it, right?"  Don't think I could ever charge my friends, but he's got a point.  It's something I would really enjoy, and it's something that will be completely my own; I can do as much or little as I want.

I would have loved to have a doula around when I had Mac.  The nurses were basically non-existent in the hospital, and I had no idea what in the world I was doing.  Mark was wonderful, but he was just as inexperienced as I was.  It would have been SO nice to have someone there to help reassure me, and communicate my desires to the hospital staff.  I just really love the idea of having someone not quite as emotionally invested to be involved in the process.  Someone who understands hospital routines, doctors and their tendencies, nurses, and then on the other hand knows full well what the couple had in mind when welcoming their child to the world.

I know that there are so many people who have fabulous hospital experiences, but mine was not.  I would like to help people make that experience whatever they want it to be.

My biggest fear is that it could be like the Mary Kay of  the pregnancy world.  No offense to all you consultants out there, but I can't really stand Mary Kay.  I just can't handle the whole I'll-be-your-friend-if-you-periodically-buy-things-from-me atmosphere that always seems to hang around.  BUT I do know that with a business of your own, it will be whatever you make it to be.  I will just not let it be that.  (And I do know several consultants who don't let it be that either.)

So, wish me luck.

It Came

Mac's birthday.  It actually, truly did come around.  I couldn't believe it.  Was I sad?  I got asked that quite a bit.  And my answer .... no.  Partially because I am really really enjoying this time in Mac's life.  I loved him as a tiny newborn, but I also felt like I was losing my mind most of the time.  Being not only a creature of habit, but one that adores sleep, having that new little man absolutely rocked my world.  Now however, I am feeling more confident and Mac has developed quite the adorable personality.  The other reason I was not sad that it was his birthday is because I did not have time to think about it much, as it was on a Monday and I had completely procrastinated buying anything (i.e. presents, streamers, ice cream, cake, candy, even wrapping paper and tape) until that very same morning.  I scrambled about Target while attempting to spoil Mac with love and binkies, which I am pretty sure is all he even wanted for his big day.  But, he has a mother bent on over-doing everything she attempts.

Then Mark called with some news ... his classmates had pooled their money (I'm 97% sure it was their living expenses loan money, too) to buy the latest and greatest ipod touch for Mac's birthday.  GASP.  Wha ... what .... so, I rushed over to the school to hug everyone, hopeful that Mac would smile and giggle and woo -- which he didn't really, it was nap time -- and try to think of something to say. 

Mark kept telling them things like, "You're just as poor as we are!" and "Just because we have a kid, doesn't mean we can't  buy anything ever," but Jeff -- who is probably the best Christian I know, in every sense of the word ... he even looks like Jesus -- said, "Really, you guys don't understand how much joy your little family brings to everyone around here."  I kind of felt like crying a little.  Thank you. I feel humbled beyond belief, I simply cannot fathom what they were thinking.  I suppose we really are just a bunch of tight-wads.  We are very grateful, and have been racking our brains trying to think of things we can do to thank them.  (Why is it that you always feel you must make things even when given something spectacular?  I can't decide if that's a fault or a virtue.)  Whatever their reasoning, we are so grateful for people who have always tried to be so kind to us in so many ways.

 Thanks Casey, Garcia, and Jeffe.

I then rushed Mac back home, got him down for a nap, and commenced cake making. Attempting to get it all done before the boy woke up was stressful.  That on top of never having made a legitimate cake before (or an illegitimate cake, for that matter) resulted in a few mistakes.  Like, tripling the Chris Gunn recipe for frosting.  You should never even double a Chris Gunn recipe, let alone triple.  I sort of had to though, I kept forgetting to not dye it until after I had pulled out the white for the eyes.

See all that on the left?  Geez.  I attempted to get rid of the leftover frosting at an enrichment activity the following night ... everyone thought it was old mayonnaise.  I finally convinced Shannon to take the white.  Not sure where the blue went.

It was particularly frustrating because in my rush, the cake was still warm so the frosting kept melting off the sides.  My attempt to make Grover here look furry was failing.  Could I ever get him to look like this little stuffed animal that never fails to make Mac smile??

Refrigerating him seemed to help.  Then on to the cupcakes. 

They turned out looking more like little Squidwards than Grovers.  But by this time Mac was up and clinging to my legs, so I threw in the towel.

Then Mark came home.  Early.

Bless him.

He suggested setting up the wagon now, instead of opening it at the park.  Good idea.

Mac was very eager to help.

I scrambled to get things together while they finished up, and we made it.

Here is giant Grover head and baby Squidwards on this super-precious table cloth I am always looking for an excuse to use.  Why not my son's birthday?  It's ............. alright, there's nothing "baby turning one" about it, but I like it.

I love this kid.  Seth is a riot.  He helped Mac eat his very tasty hot dog and pasta salad dinner.  Extra avocados, olives, and cucumbers.  Hopefully a good birthday meal ... he seemed to enjoy it.

It all turned out great.  Everyone was so nice.  They even brought presents, which I had mixed feelings about, since I specifically said NO PRESENTS.  But thank you.

Mac was very into unwrapping presents earlier in the day, while I was trying to wrap them, but a little less exuberant about it all once I actually encouraged it.  I'm thinking this could be a bad sign .... he already wants to do things specifically because I don't want him to.  That would be a trait from his father.  I am too much of a people-pleaser. 

Hehe ... he loves koosh balls, but was scared of that dinosaur at first.  He carries it around quite frequently now.

Seth is showing Mac how these awesome toys work.

Apparently Giant Grover Head was not the most inviting thing in the world.

After we sang "Happy Birthday" and the wind kept helping Mac to blow out the candle, we called it good.

He was quite hesitant.  But a fork helped.

I kept trying to get him to eat it, and he kept spitting it out.

I was a bit sad that he didn't dive face-first into that cake, but in the end it was a good thing.  I forgot to bring wipies.  He did however, love the ice cream and raspberries.  By then I had realized my lack of cleaning utensils, and fed him myself. 

The boys began playing wiffle ball.  Shannon got hit.

So they moved.

They played and played.  It was really nice.

Little Luke Shaw here is the biggest Angel's fan I've ever met.  Mark was in heaven, yelling out things like, "Here comes Bobby Abreu!", or "Come on ___ (enter a pitcher's name), get one in here!" and he would run around Luke hollering, sliding, and Luke would tackle him.  Very precious.

His mom Shannon says, "Wow I've never seen Mark talk so much."  Well Shannon, get Mark around kids or sports, and he becomes quite the jibber-jabberer.  Sure hope Mac ends up liking sports.

We played on the play ground for a while.

And then decided it was time to hit the hay.  We were tired.

Mark gave me a big fat kiss and said, "That turned out great.  I think everyone had a good time."

I hope so.  Birthdays are kind of a big deal for me, so Mac, hopefully you enjoyed your first one.