Merry Christmas!

They Just Don't Make 'Em Any Cuter Than This

Love that pretty face!

I squeal at her cuteness every time she's in the bunting.

Hot stuff for her church debut.

Absolutely irrisistable in her sleep.

Update and Thanks

I wanted to grab the opportunity to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers that Todd would be able to be present for Hazel's birth. We feel so blessed that it worked out so well. Todd came home for Thanksgiving and he and I were able to have several days together, just the two of us for the last time. It was so fantastic having him home again. He's so much fun to be with. And he was busy doing projects for me the whole time he was here - putting window plastic in Hazel's windows to keep out the cold; fixing the dishwasher; changing the shelves in the fridge so they hold things more efficiently; making lists of how-to's to keep by the computer for all those things I always ask him how to do. I've got the best husband in the universe!

We had an induction scheduled for Monday morning (Hazel's due date) but I ended up going into labor on my own that morning, which I was so grateful for (although it meant not much sleep from 2:00 in the morning on!). And then Todd was able to be here for another week, which was wonderful. (I really liked the part where I could cuddle close to him at night again, instead of having a gigantic watermelon between the two of us. I missed that!)

I loved watching him with Hazel. He is fantastic with her! She loves to hear his voice. He always calls her "girl." It's sweet to hear him talk to her: "Hey, girl, c'mere." So cute.

We were also able to gather the family together and bless Hazel Friday night, which was something very important to us, that Todd would be able to be the one to give her her baby blessing. (Awesome job making the dress, Mom!)

Todd's in Oklahoma now, leaving for Afghanistan this weekend. It's hard for me to wrap my mind and heart around how I can be so extremely full of happiness and grief at the same time. Hazel is an amazing blessing that we have waited for for a very long time. I have a hard time peeling my eyes off of her. She's such a doll. And I miss Todd so much I feel sick to my stomach and tears are always filling my eyes. It's hardest at night, when I can still smell him on his pillow. (I miss you, babe!)

I love Hazel's little Budda pose. So sweet!

Whose Face Does She Have?

We found some baby pictures of both of us, and while the pictures are a bit old and grainy, we are soliciting opinions as to who Hazel takes after most. Apparently the first picture I posted looked to much like me (whoops, imagine that), so in the interest of fairness I posted a couple more Hazel pictures to level the field. Take a close look and cast your vote. (for todd)

Angie

Todd

She's Here!!

The Marathon of Labor has finally ended.

After 22 hrs of waiting (for me, Angie would probably use a different word)
Hazel Deon Bonner was born last night at 11:36pm,
was 8lbs 14oz and is totally healthy.

We've got the crib, the chair, the diapers ... Where's the baby?

Aah, the glider has arrived. Now this nursery just needs a baby. Well, and then the baby needs a name. Then I can get cracking painting and hanging letters on the wall. Can't wait for this chica!
So. . . what to name her? Cast your vote on the sidebar, if you haven't already. I never would have thought I'd be so indecisive about it. I pegged myself as the type to have a solid name choice by week 22. Who knew?

Todd comes home on Wednesday morning. The plan is to induce early next week if she hasn't arrived on her own before that point. Which means we're talking about a baby in arms in just about a week, give or take a few days. We're stoked!

Celebrating the Love of My Life

Today is mine and Todd's four year wedding anniversary. Kind of a bummer that we're not together, but at least Todd will be here in just seven days!
In honor of the occasion, I have made a compilation of interesting facts about us, each with four answers, one for each year we've been married. Some are quirky, others more serious - they are all a part of the experience.

Songs We Always Bust Out Singing to Each Other:
(Please enjoy the links to the music videos!)
1. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
2. Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
3. Love of a Lifetime - Firehouse
4. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Middler

Fun Places We've Been Together:
1. New York City
2. Hawaii

3. Scipio
4. San Diego

Pet Names I Call Todd:
1. Babe
2. Lover
3. Hottie
4. Todd Floyd

Ways We've Celebrated Our Anniversary:
1. Power parachuting in St. George (honeymoon)
2. Sunset sail in Santa Cruz (one year)

3. Kayaking at Morro Bay (two year)
4. Weekend in New York City (three year)

Things Todd is Really Good At:
1. Running
2. Taking breathtaking pictures
3. Basketball
4. Working hard

Activities We Love to Do Together:
1. Read books - I read aloud, Todd listens (especially great for road trips)
2. Body boarding at the beach
3. Indoor rock climbing

4. Traveling

Physical Features of Todd's That I Love:
1. Dimples that only come out when he really smiles
2. Gorgeous eyes

3. Washboard abs
4. Big, strong shoulders

TV Shows We Like to Watch Together:
1. 24
2. The Office
3. Lost
4. Gilmore Girls - it's true! One of Todd's most embarrassing moments was during lunch break while working at Lockheed, when a girl mentioned she was excited to see what happened on Gilmore Girls that night, and, without thinking, Todd chimed in and said he was, too. Imagine the looks he got from all the other guys! Ha ha ha!

Things I Nag Todd About:
1. Did you take a shower today?
2. Come eat your dinner while it's still hot.
3. When's the last time you flossed?
4. Please, please, please, let me get the tweezers and pluck the hair on your ears!

Attributes of Todd's That Made Me Fall in Love With Him:
1. Persistence/very goal-oriented
2. Adventurous (he had just joined the Skeleton club when I met him)

3. Good cook - his crock pot roast really put my mac and cheese to shame!

4. He's the Nicest Guy in the Universe. I kept waiting for him to let the guard down and be a regular guy (you know, sometimes they can be jerks) but it NEVER happened. It was hard to believe he was sincerely such a good person. Once I figured out it wasn't an act, there was no way I was letting this guy out of my sight!

Todd, I love your guts.

37 Weeks

The Bean is huge. We're getting too big for my maternity clothes. She'd better show up soon so I don't have to stroll the streets of Midway in the buff.

Veteran's Day

Last year Todd and I went to New York City over Veteran's Day weekend to celebrate our wedding anniversary. One of our best trips ever.
This year, Todd observed the holiday sitting in class learning all sorts of bad things about life in Afghanistan. I know they were bad things because he wouldn't tell me anything about it. I hate that. It makes me cry.

I went to Memorial Hill, a local spot where they honor war veterans from the area. They've got plaques with the names of all the local soldiers who have served in each war. Todd's name is on a plaque for the War Against Terror.
Next year, my veteran darn well better be safely back on American soil, planning another anniversary trip with me.

Quiz: Take Four

4 Random Things I Love About My Husband:
1. He flirts with me all the time
2. He's easy to brag about, because he does cool things all the time
3. I LOVE how he smells right after he puts on his deodorant - it makes me go crazy
4. He drools over tools, but hardly owns any

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Daycare supervisor
2. Burger flipper at the Cougareat (BYU food court)
3. Early morning custodian at BYU - cleaning urinals is always fun, but especially at 5 AM
4. Teacher - easily the best job ever

4 Movies I've Seen More Than Once:
1. Princess Bride
2. Deja Vu
3. Arsenic and Old Lace
4. Pirates of the Carribean

4 TV Shows I Watch:
1. Lost
2. The Office
3. American Idol
4. Gilmore Girls

4 Places I've Been:
1. Oahu, Hawaii
2. The Bahamas
3. New York City
4. Seattle, WA

4 Places I've Lived:
1. Provo, UT
2. Mountain View, CA
3. Enterprise, AL
4. Midway, UT

4 Favorite Foods:
1. Lasagna
2. Ice cream - it doesn't even matter what flavor (I can't resist the stuff)
3. Green peppers
4. Raspberries

4 Places I'd Like to Visit:
1. Italy
2. Washington D.C.
3. Ireland
4. New Zealand

4 People I Tag:
1. Amy N. (when you get a sec to catch your breath)
2. Courtni M.
3. Jamie J.
4. Stephanie H.

Thank Goodness

California's Proposition 8 passed. I am so relieved.

Deployment

My deployment has officially begun. I'm in Oklahoma right now training up before we go over around 7December. It's only been a couple weeks so far, but has felt like a whole lot more. Each time I see Angie (we video chat online through skype) she is getting larger, I mean the baby is getting larger. I told her to go ahead and schedule the birth for Monday December 1st at 8am so I don't miss it. (I'll be back for Thanksgiving break for a few days)

I put together a quick video of some of our training; just another day in the office hoisting the paramedic up and down, except this time I got to ride the line and play the part of the medic...



More to come from Bagram airbase in Afghanistan next month.

What's That On Your FACE?!

I love having a webcam on my computer. Todd bought a laptop with a built-in camera before he left so that we can have video chats while he's deployed. It's been such a blessing. It is so much nicer to see his face when we talk.

But last night, seeing Todd's face gave me a bit of a surprise. At first, I thought it was just bad lighting. But I kept staring, and finally I had to ask, "Are you growing a mustache?" He laughed and answered in the affirmative. Apparently, all of the guys are doing it. It's a morale-boosting kind of a thing. What the - ?!
Now, I am a big fan of the two-day scruff. But usually the upper lip and the chin and cheeks match. It's so weird for him to have a mustache without a beard. And this is only a couple of days old. Just wait. . .

Being in the military, Todd's never had much of an opportunity to grow facial hair. He keeps an electric razor in the car in case he forgets to shave before leaving for work. He'll get in trouble if he's not clean-shaven. However, apparently they have different standards when we're talking deployment. And, oh baby, Todd is taking advantage of it! It's super weird.

I asked him how long he was going to keep it, and he did NOT have a deadline in mind. So I gave him one. I said he could keep it until the day he comes home for Thanksgiving. I'll see it in person and try out the prickly kiss. But then it's got to come off. He can't have a 'stache in the brand new daddy pictures! My dad went through a mustache phase, and whenever we look at those pictures, we make fun of him and ask him what he was thinking. Todd cannot have his "what were you thinking" fashion moment as we introduce our new chica to the world. Sorry man.
Readers, what are your thoughts on mustaches? I'm talking - unaccompanied by a beard. Just the upper lip hair. Nothing more. Do tell.

Just a Little Good News

So, just a little bit of rejoicing here. There was angst and possible disappointment, but all has turned full circle now.

Voting ballots. Where the heck were ours?

Todd and I are registered to vote by mail in California. We got our Cali ballots in Alabama last year so we could vote for all the county judges and stuff. We were expecting to get Cali ballots again this year, and VOTE YES ON PROP 8 and also try to keep Obama out of the White House.

But the ballots never came.

I've been calling and trying to speak with an actual person at the Santa Clara County voting office for over a week now. First, I was getting sent to voice mail, which was full and wouldn't let me leave a message. Then, I was still being sent to voice mail, but when I'd leave messages, they must have fallen into a dark abyss or something, because there was no response.

But last night I got a call from them! And they said our ballots had been mailed to Alabama. They put my Utah address and Todd's Oklahoma address in their system and said they would mail our new ballots out in the morning (maybe even as I type this...) and we should have them by Thursday. Hallelujah!

Here is why it means so much to me:

1) I am a patriotic American, and do not want to miss out on exercising my right to vote.

2) Although I am not in love with McCain, Obama scares my socks off. I need to do what I can to get Palin - er, uh, McCain - into the White House. Please, can we stay away from Socialism?

3) Vote Yes on Prop 8 is perhaps the most important action I will have taken as a voter since I started voting in 2000. (For those who don't know, Prop 8 would define marriage as being only between a man and a woman in the California constitution. Sadly, there is a lot of opposition to it in California.) I am horrified by how threatened "traditional" families are, and want to do whatever I can to ensure that my children are raised in a country where it's common sense that a family has a mom and a dad.

At any rate, I was thoroughly disappointed that I wasn't going to be able to vote at this upcoming election, but now my worries are over. I can't wait to hold my ballot in my hot little hand!

Bingham Girl's Weekend

This weekend my mom and sisters came to Midway for a weekend getaway together. We had such a blast! We played games, sewed a baby quilt, and went to art galleries and boutiques around town. It's always so much fun having the girls get together to bond.

me, Kathryn, Mom, Emily

On Saturday, we had quite an hour of drama. We had been at a local boutique, looking at crafts and things. There were samples of lotions and body scrubs all over the place. We all kept putting products on and feeling so chic, smelling each other. Well, I came across a spray bottle that was labeled cranberry spice. How could I pass that up?! I took the lid off and sniffed, but couldn't smell anything, so I sprayed a little on my wrist. Oh man! It smelled SO GOOD! I could not resist spraying two or three squirts on my neck. I reveled in my great new aroma.

I came across my mom in the store and asked her to smell me. She wanted to know what I had used, so I showed her the spray. Well, she read the bottle and said, "It says it may irritate skin." What? I looked at the bottle. Then I looked at what it was displayed with - incense. Not body spray.

I said, "Actually, my neck IS starting to sting a little bit. I guess I'll go wash it off in the bathroom." By the time I got to the restroom, the sting had turned into more of a burning, and my neck was turning red. I washed and scrubbed with soap as best I could, but nothing was soothing me and the red was inching up higher and getting brighter.

I hustled out of the restroom and found my mom. When she saw me, she said my neck looked lobster red! We hustled home to take some Benadryll. However, on the way home, I started to worry that I shouldn't take any medicine without my doctor's approval. I called his number, but he was not in the office. Urgent care had closed two hours earlier. And no one answered the phone at the emergency room. (Gotta love small towns at times like this!)

Instead, my mom made me an oatmeal poultice. I layed on the couch and pretended I was getting a spa treatment for the next hour. It really did make it feel better. An hour later, I was as good as gold. Crazy, I know.

Thank goodness for oatmeal and cold water.

We had a fall feast for dinner - soup in a pumpkin. It was so divine. My friend Rebekah made it last year in Alabama, and Todd has been dreaming of it ever since. We had wanted to make it together before he took off for Oklahoma, but ran out of time. So my mom and sisters and I had it in Todd's honor instead. Here's the recipe:

Slice off the top of one medium pumpkin; clean out the inside of pumpkin and set aside. Saute four cut-up chicken breasts in three tablespoons of butter until golden. Remove and saute three sliced carrots, two sliced celery stalks, and 1/2 cup scallions. Add one can each of cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, and chicken alphabet soup. Stir in one can water, 1/3 cup sour cream, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Mix well and pour into hollow pumpkin. Top with pumpkin top. Place on baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 90 minutes. Scrape pumpkin sides when serving. Makes eight servings.

Mmm. Pumpkin soup. Divine.

And last but not least, I finally took another belly picture for you all. Oh, and Todd's captain is hoping to send the troop to Afghanistan a little early, so now I'm nervous that Todd'll miss The Bean's arrival. They're hoping to leave December 5th. My due date is December 1st. We'd appreciate any and all prayers that she'll make her appearance before Todd takes off.

Me and The Bean a day shy of 34 weeks.

Fun Quiz

Your Element Is Air

You dislike conflict, and you've been able to rise above the angst of the world. And when things don't go your way, you know they'll blow over quickly. Easygoing, you tend to find joy from the simple things in life. You roll with the punches, and as a result, your life is light and cheerful. You find it easy to adapt to most situations, and you're an open person. With you, what you see is what you get... and people love that!

What's Your Element?

Painting the Baby's Room

Well, Todd and I drove back to Midway on Sunday, and right away Monday morning got started on projects around the house. My favorite was painting the baby's room. My jobs included planning the finished product, helping to tape, picking out the paint at Home Depot, and reading to Todd from the hallway while he did the actual painting. We documented the wall's progress for all you loyal readers to see:

Taping the wall

Todd, hard at work painting

Just about done - just need to take the tape off

Voila! And, oh yes, we also set up the crib.

We're so excited! We've got a dresser in there, and space to put the comfy green glider we bought which will hopefully arrive before The Bean does. Now I'll just get to work on hanging up cute pictures and things on the walls. Also, I need to find great crib bedding. So much to do, so little time. I am loving this baby room thing!

What I Like About You

"Come here, my little crock pot."

That's what Todd said to me as he sat down to watch General Conference today. It took me a second to figure out why the heck he called me that, and then I started laughing. I'm slow cooking the baby!

How could I not adore this guy?

Grateful

Just want to say, I love living with Todd. It doesn't matter that we're in a hotel room in an unfamiliar city. I don't care that I'm using travel-size shampoo or living out of a suitcase. I slept better last night than I have in weeks, because when I'd wake up in the middle of the night, I'd hear Todd breathing next to me, and I could put my head on his shoulder and feel him wrap his arm around me. The next two weeks will be bliss.

Mission Call for Ryan

My awesome little brother Ryan got his mission call on Friday. He is going to the California Los Angeles Spanish speaking mission. He enters the MTC on New Year's Eve.

Congratulations Ryan!

It was exciting to be able to be there in person when he opened his call. Yet another nice thing about living in Utah.

Baby Gone Wild

Thursday night a couple of my college roommates, Kelsey and Emily Jean, threw me a baby shower. The theme was Baby Gone Wild, which definitely lent itself to some great decorations.

Leopard print balloons

Super cute diaper cake

Zebra print prize bags

Wild treat table

The best part of the night was the guest list. I was able to see my mom and sisters and reunite with good friends from the past. I was looking forward to this night for weeks because of who I would see there: Jennifer from high school, Trish from California, Brittany and Suzanne, who were my favorite college next-door neighbors, and freshman roommates Kelsey, Emily, and Theresa. I loved seeing everyone again.

Another freshman roommate, Stephanie, was planning to be there until she ended up with a complication in her pregnancy and was ordered on bedrest for a couple of days. So, when the shower was over, the rest of us roomies headed over to Steph's house and continued the party there. It was such a blast! We were reminiscing on all our crazy times and laughing so hard we were crying. Thanks for letting us crash your house, Steph.

Theresa, me, Kelsey, EJ

I had such a great night. Thanks for planning the party, Kemily!

28 Weeks

This was me last Friday. I'm borrowing someone else's computer/Internet access so I can get this posted before I'm significantly more huge than that. Enjoy!

For a quick update, Todd is in Central California, and I am in Midway, UT. We've got about 2 1/2 weeks apart, and then we'll both be in Sacramento again for a few weeks, living in hotels once again. Can't wait for October 1st! Miss you, Todd.

Sympathy Dreams

So, the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" states that husbands may experience symptoms similar like those of their pregnant wives, sympathy pains, so to speak. I've been checking in periodically with Todd to see if he has a sore back, sore feet, etc. Usually, there has been nothing on his end.

However... last week he dreamed that he was pregnant. He was several months behind me, so we were going to end up with two kids about three months apart in age. He wasn't huge yet, just had the little bump. Sadly, he doesn't remember many more details, but we will take what we can get. He hardly ever remembers his dreams at all, so this was quite the special occasion.

Speaking of bumps, my baby loves to move these days, and her favorite spot is right below my right rib. I think I have internal bruising. Seriously, there's tons more space in there to explore - why does she always poke and prod at this same spot? It's been weeks now!

(I try to complain, but truly I love every single movement. It is my favorite part of being pregnant. I love to feel this little girl inside me.)

Update Since We Moved

Well, guys, Todd and I fell off the side of the Internet world, but now we're climbing back in. We haven't been taking pictures, so I'll try to keep this short and sweet since there are no visuals to hold your attention.

On Wednesday, August 20th, Todd graduated from Flight School as an Honor Graduate, one of the top three in his class of 50 students. What can I say, I'm married to a genius. That afternoon, we hopped in the Penske and said goodbye to Alabama. We drove for two and a half days and rolled into Midway, Utah late Friday night.

We spent last week moving into our new house and hanging out with family. Highlights: watching my brother Ryan be ordained to the Melchezedik Priesthood; floating the Provo River; wakeboarding (just Todd); and just being around our families.

On Labor Day, we got in the car again and drove to Sacramento, California. This is the first stage of Todd's pre-mobilization training, and I came with him for the first week and a half - the last ten days I get to live with Todd other than "visits" for the next 13 months. It's a bittersweet time for us. We're so thankful for every day we are still together, but we definitely feel the clock ticking. It bites to be able to count down how many days we have left until we separate. I feel like crying a lot, but then I tell myself to wait - love these days together, and cry later. I'll have plenty of time for that down the road.

Okay, one picture. Here is where we ate lunch yesterday. We were so excited to be back in California so we could taste this deliciousness!

Am I Too Old to Think This is Funny?

A Gift to the Bonners, love Alabama

Last night we left a friends' house at 11:30 and couldn't believe how cool it was outside. Where was the muggy, hot weather we've come to expect? Instead, it was dreamy. We drove home with the car windows rolled down and opened all the windows in the house to let in the fresh air overnight. When I walked downstairs this morning, I couldn't believe the difference. It. Felt. Awesome!

All day we waited for the heat and humidity to come back, but it's been "like the Bay Area," as Todd put it. So beautiful and pleasant. I can't believe it. It was only 88 degrees when we left church at noon - normally it's in the mid-nineties and feels like death.

So we celebrated. We soaked it up. We played bocce ball, something I've been dying to do for weeks, but not badly enough to endure the humidity. I didn't even break a sweat out there. It was so nice.
We had Baja citrus chicken, grilled on the BBQ, for dinner, and ate it oN tHe DeCk!!! I've been missing that place! After dinner, we lounged in our camp chairs and chatted for a good 45 minutes, and then cleaned up dinner and went for a nice long walk.

I am loving it!

Thank you, Alabama, for this beautiful parting gift.

23 Weeks

Well, there's no more denying that there's a baby in there. I'm way more huge than I was a month ago when I posted the last pic. Four more months for The Bean and me to grow!

I'm Bugged

That's it. I'm not stepping outside one more time for three weeks, until the day we move away from this infernal state.

I'm washing floors today. Todd sometimes uses the same bucket for car washing with his Boy Scouts. There was some residual car wash soap, as well as a dead bug, in the bottom of the bucket when I took it off the shelf half an hour ago. I took the bucket outside to spray it out with our water spigot.

Apparently, when I turned on the water, I disturbed a hill of fire ants.
Before you could count to three, my entire foot was stinging. I looked down, and fire ants were swarming all over the driveway and up both my legs. I immediately dumped the water from the bucket on my legs and then picked the rest of the ants off with my fingers as fast as I could. Too late to avoid bites.

Look how red my second toe is. And do you see the big white bite in the middle? I hate these guys! They are so vicious.
And then, as I was hurrying inside to get the anti-itch cream I badly needed, I was bit TWICE on the arm by an airborne insect. I batted it away quickly and am not sure if it was a wasp or a spider or what. So there's a huge welt on my arm, too. Todd thinks it was a muddigger wasp, coming back for revenge since we knocked their nest down the other day.

I'm so ticked. I hate Alabama bugs. August 20th couldn't come any sooner...

Additional Note: Two and a half hours later, I broke my oath and cut Todd's hair out on the back patio, because I didn't want the hair clippings all over my freshly washed floor. I wore shoes: Todd did not. Todd got NINE bites on his feet, possibly from spiders, because they are huge and itchy and fire ant bites usually don't bother him like they do me. The insects are planning a complete take-over!