Finals are like childbirth:

1. You were expecting them.

2. You supposedly are prepared.
3. Just like professors: you sometimes have a love/hate relationship with your nurses and doctor.
4. Keeping all things in perspective they are: quick and painful.
5. Nobody can do it for you.
6. Once it is over there is a sense of overwhelming relief...you feel like you conquered the world.
7. Inevitably you forget the pain the next day.


Stress is a funny thing. It usually leads to exhaustion. Exhaustion that won't let you sleep. During finals we have a pack of Dr. Pepper, candy bars, ice cream and rotting vegetables in the fridge. We ALL want this "baby" to come...to be over with. Paul is holding up SO well. This week I must turn into Mary Poppins...practically perfect. Finals week cannot handle: disagreements, burnt meals, missed naps or dirty towels. It's the least I can do for Mr. Paul. I am so proud of him.

Gigi's visit

Playing hide-n-seek

Our Gigi came last week for her Spring Break. April is SUCH a nice time to visit. The weather was perfect. We stayed busy playing outside, going to parks, library, lunches, reading books, baths and chatting that we hardly took pictures.

The kids LOVED having her. For the first time I realized how much I AM like my mom. We even sound the same. I love you mom. Thank you for coming.

GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL GIRL

The majority of you (including myself) guessed wrong! It's a GIRL. I am not disclosing my perfect girl name yet...I don't want to commit to anything or get other opinions so soon.

Guessing game

Next week we are going to find out the GENDER of this baby! I have been thinking it was a boy but the other night I decided on the PERFECT girls name. Now I really hope it's a girl because names are the hardest part for me.

Boy or Girl...what do you think?

Silent

Paul put the kids to bed tonight. He told them to stay in their beds (we always give a lengthy lecture about staying in bed). Several minutes later we heard the speaker from David's car say: "buzz lighter to the rescue". David had compromised himself and was now in trouble!

Paul went in the room and couldn't find David. Eden was already asleep so he didn't want to turn on the light. He was no where to be found? Mysterious?

I felt under the bed and looked in the closet (assuming I would hear little giggles, breathing...something).

Then we saw it.......his little hand holding the door open while he hid behind the door.

How did he remain silent? I would have been giggling seeing my parents on their hands and knees searching for me.

Olive Garden has done it.

Several months ago I pouted when Outback Steak House took their chocolate tower off their menu. I have been sad about it until now.


Chocolate Ciottoli Cake
Dark chocolate cobblestone cake chunks layered with chocolate mousse and a soft brownie topped with hazelnuts.


This is my perfect dessert. One you only need a few bites of. One I could never make at home. Try it.



I promise my next post won't be about cake, or gagging or bad hair cuts. Remember I don't even really like chocolate while pregnant. Yes, that happens with all my pregnancies. My desire for sweets subside while my desire to sleep increases.

Third times a charm

I LOVE sweets. I will plan my dessert before the entree. I have HORRIBLE self control....until I'm pregnant.

Last week I made a cake similar to the one pictured and only took one bite. Normally this cake doesn't last two days. That poor cake is still in my fridge.

This has happened with all my pregnancies. I consider it a blessing and am relieved that this pregnancy is showing similar patterns as my previous two.

Thank you baby for giving me your first gift...the ability to say no to chocolate!

Throwback Thursday

Look at those cheeks, her two chins, that hair, those big eyes. Instead of dressing her up cute, we loved to take silly pictures of her. She was aware, independent and oh so chubby.

*I took out my comment about her not being cute...that came out wrong. For the record I think she was & is VERY cute (of course she's my daughter). Oh how I miss kissing those chubby cheeks.




We love her.






Thanks Lisa for the Throwback Thursday idea. I love seeing old photos.

Spring Break

The weather was FABULOUS last week!

The kids enjoy the animals. Although when we asked what their favorite part was Eden screamed "playground". David said "yeah play".

Plenty of horsey rides and wrestling. One morning I came down to see these two watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse dressed as so. Eden is wearing a skirt attached with shorts as a dress.

Small victories

1. Paul passed the first section of the CPA exam!!!! Hooray for Paul.

2. Someone I bore my testimony to several weeks ago actually came to church! Today when he walked through the door, I thought my heart would burst. So many times I have shared my testimony with people at work and it usually ends awkwardly. This is just the first step but it is so exciting to share the TRUTH with someone who wants to listen.

Sensitive

March 19th, 2009: Our 4 year wedding anniversary

- Cyndi's facial at 10am. All was going well until green tea bags and a mask were put on my face. I started gagging and pretty much ruined the whole "relaxing" experience. Who likes the smell of green tea?

- 3pm David's poopy diaper again sent me gagging and Paul had to recover the poor child.

-5:30pm we went to Boure restaurant and ordered a rack of lamb (being adventurist). First I was sitting by the air conditioner so I made Paul change seats. Then the table 2 feet away ordered a HUGE bowl of boiled crawfish. Have you ever seen crawfish? Let alone watch someone eat it? I made Paul switch seats again so I couldn't see them. Even though my vision was impaired the smell of boiled sea, fish, salt...fishy grossness crept up my nose. I could feel the gagging coming so I covered my mouth while Paul distracted me conversing about Lost. I made it...dinner was good. Actually, my lamb still was a little pink inside. Something about pink meat just freaks me out. Paul finished it and we held hands on the way out.

-7:00pm we were off the Baskin Robbins. Nothing could ruin chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Right? Wrong my friend. The Baskin Robbins is inside a very disguising gas station. I held my breath trying not to breath the smoke, looking at the trash filled with old food and tobacco chew. I made the biggest mistake...going to the bathroom. If I ever get a rare disease, I am blaming that bathroom. We grabbed a tub of spectacular chocolate peanut butter ice cream and raced out of there. Instead of getting in the car, I went around the corner of the store and disposed of my rack of lamb. I came back to the car teary eyed (that happens after I throw up). Paul gave me a kiss and we continued our evening as if it had been the best night of our lives.

-8:30pm we pick up the kids. The Liffereth's have smiles on their faces and tell us our kids are cute. Only to find out Eden destroyed the older girls makeup and David tried to clog the toilet.

-10:30pm I lay in bed thinking about the day and wondering when I became so high maintenance! I used to be different. I didn't care where we ate. I didn't care what movie we watched. I would clean anything. I wasn't very opinionated nor talkative. Paul came to bed after checking some missed basketball scores. We read the Book of Mormon together. Just as we did 4 years ago. We prayed together. Just as we did 4 years ago. We kissed goodnight. Just as we did 4 years ago.

Even though we have changed throughout our marriage, our nightly ritual never has. Happy Anniversary.

Peas Please

The three gardeners planted peas last weekend.

No difference

Two days ago it was nice outside. The kids begged me to turn on the hose. I put on everyone's proper swim wear and turned on the hose. David kept taking off his swim trunks. He ran around trying to tell me something, I couldn't understand. Finally I realized he was saying he wanted a swimsuit! After that was settled they played outside for 2 hours.

He doesn't know he is different than Eden. He sees no difference between them.

He just likes to be with her.He also likes Pop. Pop is David's. Eden has enough babies and dolls to cuddle with. David gets Pop.

Weepy Weekend

Friday I was a little emotional. It's a pregnancy thing.

I cried when...

• I saw all the dishes in the sink. Didn't I JUST do them?
• I was missing the Blaus and Yamniks.
• When Paul said, "I can't wait for you to get big and have stretch marks". (I wanted to punch him. Who saids that?)

There was a trigger. Like all good crying days there always is a trigger. It was Mister Eden. Yes, Mister because...well, you'll see.

Eden came down from her nap sporting a fancy mullet. Apparently she had hidden scissors under her bed.

This is her new hairstyle. Oh my. Obviously we didn't get our point across the first time. This time Paul did the punishing. He gave her a good talk (which shook her up...dad's can do that). Plus we took her princess shoes away. We couldn't think of a natural consequence for hair cutting?? She doesn't care that she has short hair.

It's weird. She looks so different...so boyish... that even I am surprised to watch her act girlie. It will take time to get used to.

I guess it is time

To announce: I'm pregnant

10 weeks

It's been fun having a secret. However, considering everything is getting too tight (already...are you kidding me?). It is time to let the cat out of the bag. I was hoping to keep the really big bras and stretchy pants in storage for awhile...but that was wishful thinking.