News

We bought a van.  It is a 2012 Honda Odyssey and we are totally loving it.  I get scared every time I pull in or out of our garage because it's a tight fit, but other than that, it is a joy to drive. 

 My favorite features so far are:

1. Automatic sliding doors - they open with just a push of a button, and no worries about Hazel bumping the cars we park next to.  It is so nice to open the doors with the buttons on the key while I"m holding Jack and a trillion other things at the same time. 

2. Sunroof!  I was disappointed to realize how often the sun is glaring right overhead and I choose to keep it closed, but when it is open, Hazel and I pretend we're in a convertible and bask in the extra light and the overhead view. 

3. There's a USB port in the glove box that I keep my iPod plugged into.  All my favorite music, with me all the time.  Divine.  Also, it has memory space to burn 16 CDs so I can store all our favorite songs and easily meet Hazel's request for "Poor Unfortunate Souls" without having to take CDs in and out while driving.  I love it!!! 

Now you're probably wondering the same thing that all our neighbors were, and if so, you are correct.  I am pregnant!  Baby #3 is expected to arrive in early January and we are both thrilled and scared.

I had no idea this photo I texted to Todd was so shiny and bad until tonight.  Oh well.

 At my doctor appointment last month, the doctor who saw me was surprised that I hadn't had gestational diabetes with Hazel or Jack because they were both so huge.  (8.14 and 9.9)  She suggested that I try to gain less weight this pregnancy (aim for 25 lbs instead of the 35-37 I gained previously) and see if that gives me a smaller baby.  She said I may not be able to gain that little, as some women are predisposed to gain a certain amount no matter what, and she said it may not give me a smaller baby, either.  But it is serious motivation for me, so I'm trying hard to be better about what I eat and get off my duff and exercise.  If you see me, please ask me how I'm doing so I won't slack off!!!  Please help me not have a 10 pound baby!

Speaking of exercising, I was working my tail off January through April.  I was attending a boot camp workout class four mornings a week and finally got over my hatred of sweating.  It started feeling good to work hard!  I was just starting to make some real progress.  Then I got pregnant and started feeling sick and fatigued and totally lost my mojo lying on the couch all the time. 

Then they announced at church that there's going to be a Stake Relief Society/Young Women's 5K in September and I decided I want to do it.  Now that I'm starting to feel better I'm trying to run three times a week.  Am I crazy to try to do my very first 5K five months pregnant?  I figure I can always walk instead of run if I really can't do it, but I'd like to try. 

In other news, we drove to Utah the last weekend in June to attend Todd's sister Kelsi's wedding.  (Congrats again Kelsi and David!) Hazel had just barely earned Peter Pan from completing a goal-oriented sticker chart and was so excited to watch it on the drive.  I love the enraptured look in her eyes.  She totally loved it. 

 The drive was long and rough, but totally worth it, if only to snatch these darling pictures of the kids sleeping.  Melt my heart! 

 For the 4th of July, we went to Half Moon Bay.  They had an excellent parade.  We left after an hour and a half and it was still going strong!  They threw enough candy to call it Halloween.  The kids' favorite part was an enormous group of dogs and their owners. 

 After the parade we played at the beach for a while, grabbed some fresh fish for lunch, then drove home.  That night we watched fireworks and lit some of our own with our friends the Naseaths.  Hazel called it "the best day ever."