Solutions to things that bug me:

In honor of my sister-in-law, April, I've decided to put a positive spin on the things that are sometimes literally pulling my hair out, so here goes my solutions to the things that bug me!

1. Inhumanely high gas prices! We basically don't drive anymore. I stroller everywhere I go, even the store unless i have to get milk because it won't fit. I actually borrowed a shopping cart for a little bit--Scotty loves sitting in the front!--but someone else "borrowed" it back from our yard...Eric has even started biking to work and school, which has the added bonus of letting him work out without taking too much extra time. Plus, we don't lose our parking space in front of the house.

2. TEETHING. For the uninitiated, I won't gross you out with details, but for you moms out there, top teeth in nursing babies are like first adjusting to nursing all over again--with puncture wounds. My solution to this is tylenol and naps--for both Scotty and mom!

3. No central AC. As I'm home pretty much all day, I try to keep the house as cool as possible with fans. I have also learned the joys of crockpot cooking--even breads and dessert--because it doesn't heat up the house the way the oven does. I'm also glad that long shorts are in style!

4. The unsocial aspects of being a SAHM. I was hoping to get a calling that would help me get to know more people in the ward; it's hard to get much out of church sometimes when you spend three hours shuffling in and out of classrooms with a hyper-yet-super-tired baby. Being the musical person that I am, however, means I will eternally have music callings, and I was just called to be the ward pianist, which means I trade off duties for sacrament meeting (including preludes and postludes), R.S., choir, and even firesides. SO, I look for other ways to get involved! I go to as many activities as I can in the ward, and never miss our "Ladies Day Out" for a little social interaction with people who speak something other than whine. I also go to the local pool with other moms and jointly watch our kids--it's a nice break to play with a stationary child and let someone else chase after Scotty as he goes exploring! The public library does a baby story and singing time every wednesday that includes a puppet show, so that's a nice break. I have also gotten really involved with family history and especially familysearch indexing--it's not really social but it's something for me and it's very calming. I highly recommend you check it out! Go to www.familysearchindexing.org for more info :o) We also try to invite couples in the ward over for games and junk food, and I've given a few people haircuts recently, which is really just an excuse for me to have someone come talk to me. Any other suggestions?

5. Post-partum stress disorder. For those of you who haven't taken the hormonal roller coaster that is pregnancy and all of that, it's been quite a ride for me. Thankfully, I feel a lot more like myself now! Still, I have a few helps that make a big difference for me until I fully adjust back to my normal, happy outgoing self :o) First off, medication! I waited four (very stressful!) months before finally seeing a doctor and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. All i have to do is forget, or decide to stop taking my meds for a few days, and i realize how much it really does help! Also, junk food--especially ice cream--is nice, and it helps me keep my weight steady (one of the other problems). I have to thank Eric for being so supportive, and for understanding when I just need a few minutes to freak out so I can move on past the stress I'm feeling. He's tremendous! I also go on long walks outside everyday to enjoy some sunshine, read only happy books (hello chick lit!), don't watch any intense movies in the evening, take naps whenever i can steal them, and call my mom a lot.

Superheroes, Swimming Suits, and Sore Toes!

Well, it finally feels like summer here in Provo, and Scotty is making good use of the local pools--including his very own baby pool! He figured out how to crawl in and out on his own, so I have to watch him pretty close.






We're super excited to have Eric's sibs here, Bekah and Stephen, for summer term. We plan to make good use of them for games that require more than 2 people, people to hang out with that think we're cool, and maybe the occasional baby sitter.


Eric is not too busy with classes, but finally finishing his last GE this term in addition to working for a local company that produces infomercials. He's staying busy playing with Scotty, playing our Wii, and the new game, Acquire, that I bought on eBay for Father's Day.


I am amazed at how much personality I can see in Scotty even as a baby--this kid is super social and loves to explore! He can sense on open door from the other side of the house and I have to watch before I close anything to not shut him out. He's fearless about crawling away from me to discover anything--bugs in the front yard if I'm getting the mail, everyone in our ward during Relief Society, the entire public library staff...


When we go to Mother's group and he plays with other kids the same thing always seems to happen: Scotty wants to play, so he crawls over by an unsuspecting kid and sits down. Really close. Often on the kid's foot, or leaning against his back. Then the other baby looks up at his mom, his face begins to scrunch up, and he starts screaming. Scotty, however, remains oblivious, happily waving his toys around and making lots of noise. He just loves other people and is unfazed by anything! I often watch other kids in the ward and it's easy for me--Scotty just sees them as another toy :o) He's even learning to play nicely, and starting realize that you can't crawl on baby's faces...yikes.

His nonchalance apparently also extends to pain--except when it comes to teething! (come through already fourth tooth, I'm tired of the whining!) The other day he was bouncing around in the kitchen when he must have kicked the stool he often uses as a walker. He cried for two seconds, but I picked him up and he was totally chill. I changed his diaper, played a little, and let him crawl off, only to look down and see stuff all over my pants! We had eaten popsicles at the pool earlier, and for a minute I was embarrassed, thinking I had walked around all day with red popsicle all over myself! Then I realized it was blood--from Scotty! It had smeared all over his legs by this time, so it took me a minute to figure out his toe was bleeding; he had sliced the entire corner of skin off! We washed it well and bandaged him up, but I'm still amazed that he didn't even seem to notice...In fact, he thought the bandaid was a pretty cool thing to pull off and play with.

Go figure.

New pictures!!!

So I've had some requests (ok, mostly from my mom who misses us terribly!) for new scotty pictures...since he happens to be adorable and ridiculously cute, i happen to have oodles of pictures. Even some videos!

So, enjoy :o) But first, a word from our sponser--me:

Yes that's right, this is my tremendous birthday cake Eric made for me--strawberry cake with vanilla marshmallow frosting and fresh strawberries! So good--and thanks to everyone who came over to celebrate with us and eat junk food, even though us girls still need to redeem ourselves in Aggravation. I'm telling you, the boys just got too lucky too many times!

And yes, I did cut my hair, so that I can grow it out.
This isn't as illogical as it sounds; i want to grow it out but it has to get past that awkward length, which means unless i have layers and some texture, i have a mushroom for a head. And yes, i cut it myself one morning while Scotty was napping.

In other news, Eric officially finished one of his classes today and it eager to be done with the second on Wednesday. He deserves the rest of the week off! We're looking forward to having the Larsen family descend on Provo, and we expect some good game time this week (*ahem* bring your A-game Stephen, have we got the game for you!)

Here are some ridiculously cute things of Scotty, as promised. And sure, feel free to ignore this part if you don't find my drooling, whining, giggling, squirming baby as fun as I do!

He's a piano player, just like his mama! Maybe I should get him to play for me in church one of these weeks....;o)

He loves the swings, especially when Eric is around because he loves it when daddy startles him and makes him jump! Sometimes I wonder about kids....seriously though, this is his favorite game with Eric right now. Eric will hide around a corner and tell Scotty to crawl to him. Scotty crawls quickly, and then slows down to a creep, waiting, waiting--"Boo" he jumps and flails and--logically--giggles hysterically, when Eric jumps out from his hiding place and grabs at him. If I tried this game, he's been in therapy for life and probably never forgive me.

Ok, one last video, which is adorable and will have to do for now because we forgot to bring a camera to the pool last week to catch Scotty crawling around and loving every second! But a fair warning: naked baby in bath tub!

Scotty's tenth month update:

Well, I have tons of cute pictures and videos, but those will have to wait! Here are the stats:

Height: too squirmy

Weight: 18 lb. 4 oz. (according to the produce scale at Smith's)

Teeth: 2 and the top right one poking through a tiny bit...

Favorite activities: eating (anything!), crawling in the pool, banging on the piano, swinging at the park, watching mom and dad do yardwork, pulling videos off the shelf

Favorite toys: spoons, cellphones, the tv remote, anything that makes noise!

Favorite foods: graham crackers, ice cream, anything mom and dad are eating

Naps: 1 long one--2 hours sometimes!

Nighttime wakings: none anymore :o) sometimes he cries for a bit but since i stopped feeding him he falls back asleep on his own...how tremendous!

New tricks: starting to let go of things and balance a bit on his own, making "popping" noises with his mouth, whistling--i'm not kidding, he's better than I am! being cute enough to keep mom from getting mad because he pulls things off the shelf...

I Am Sam, Sam I Am

It's true--I'm an avid reader. I mean, read two novels a week kind of reader. Yes--even with a baby, I just don't sleep sometimes! It all started with Green Eggs and Ham, and since then I'll read just about anything I can get my hands on.

So let's hear it people--what are your favorite books? Any kind of book: religious, biography, non-fiction, romance, chick-lit, mystery, children's, drama... I'll keep updating my summer reading list with books I've completed so far (since May) as part of Provo city's summer reading program (yes--i get a piece of candy for every review i submit. yay, taffy!)

So here are some of my all-time favorites, (at least the ones that come to mind at the moment!) in no particular order:

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
On a Pale Horse - Piers Anthony
Number the Stars - Lois Lowry
Runaway Jury - John Grisham
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

and, almost any book in Sue Grafton's "letter" alphabet series (the latest is "T is for Trespass")
or any of Anne MacCaffrey's Dragon books, though I think "Dragonrider" is my favorite...

I know I'm forgetting some, so please--share your suggestions! this is probably your only chance to expand my mind ;o)