Preschool Dialog...

ella: oh wow ms. ali! I can see your baby's toe popping out of your tummy!

me: oh really? where?

ella: (gently rubbing my protruding bellybutton) right here!

me: sigh. laugh. laugh some more.

me: oh honey. that's actually my bellybutton popping out to CHINA to say 'hello'.



only 5 more weeks...

alert the media...

no force was used.
no bribery involved.
not even a single tear shed.

he just did it!

our little man, of 18 months old, slept in his big boy bed for the first time last night.


after tossing and turning worried that he'd wake up and be frightened by his new surroundings, i awoke to this after a full night's sleep...HIM...peacefully reading and playing on his new bed. could it last?


i have yet to try this new big boy venture during naptimes. baby steps for now. any advice on this HUGE milestone?

He Joins His Wife in HEAVEN...

Gordon B. Hinckley


The news hit hard last night. We lost our beloved friend and Prophet who has valiantly lead our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for almost 13 years. I know this will be popping up on blogs all over the world, but I just wanted to add my love to a man who has inspired me to be a better person and to strive to live each day committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ. I will miss his humor, quick wit, his boldness of character, the love that radiated from him each time he spoke, and hearing his powerful testimony of Christ and this church. I am so happy he gets to be with his wife in heaven whom he seemed to miss so much!

You know you're a mom when...

you are blogging about strollers! BORING!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Admittedly, I was hoping that everyone would write in and agree on the same stroller, but I guess that's a bit unreasonable.

I have read all your advice and narrowed down my options. Here is the low-down:

(any last minute warnings OR experiences with the strollers listed below would be helpful!)


1. PHIL & TED STROLLER - many of you wrote in highly recommending this cadillac grand-daddy. A pretty penny is right! I may have to sell my first born to afford this. However, jokes aside...it would be worth it to me if it was that "magical" stroller that did EVERYTHING.

LOVE: compact, streamlined, lightweight, people in Hollywood use it.

DON'T LOVE: the newborn carseat has to go in the front. I am pretty convinced that Jack (my active, wants-to-see-the-world 18 mo. old) would not enjoy being down there in that "baggage claim" area with no view and little interaction.



2. GRACO DUO GLIDER - A solid name to stand by, right? My stroller now is a Graco. I can't say I LOVE it, but I also don't have any issues with it either. This is just your run-of-the-mill old classic.

LOVE: The frame looks sturdy. It seats two kids and matches my graco carseat. Inexpensive.

DON'T LOVE: Heavy


3. KOLCRAFT CONTOUR - now this is a nifty idea...these seats can be turned in ANY direction. The kids can face each other, be back to back, or both forward.

LOVE: seat rotation. Back seat can be replaced with a lightweight metal frame for an infant carrier. Cute style.

DON'T LOVE: Heavy, supposedly REALLY long, and you have to remove one seat EVERY time you fold it up. (seat removal does seems easy, though)


4. JOOVY SIT N' STAND - Among all these choices, a sit n' stand model would be my first pick. HOWEVER, I think Jack is still about a year too young for one. I really think he'd be fine on short outings to the park, pool, or even mall, but a day at Disneyland or the zoo on one of these...EEEK! I am not convinced that little lap belt could contain him.

LOVE: Lightweight...it's NOT a double stroller monster!

DON'T LOVE: Lacks a 5 point harness that could contain the excitement of a 1 1/2 year old. Plus...does the reclined front seat get in the way of the seated toddler in the rear?


5. BABY TREND SIT N' STAND - This is a double stroller that can be converted into a sit n' stand by removing the back seat.

LOVE: it seems versatile enough with two seats to get us out of the early toddler stage and into a more independent age where Jack can then handle the sit/stand part.

DON'T LOVE: The back seat seems cramped for a tall toddler like ole jack attack.



I guess now it is up to me. With much fasting and prayer maybe, just maybe, I will be able to make a decision. Thanks again for enduring these BORING posts. Your comments are ALWAYS welcome!

Suggestions, please.

I wish I could dodge the need for a double stroller, but I think it will be necessary with two kids under 2. I am desperately seeking advice from you skilled and seasoned mothers. Just a few requirements:

1. I don't want it to cost more than my car.

2. Not a huge fan of the side by side seats.

3. Something easy to maneuver and not too heavy.

4. Oh, and something that will keep my baby from crying, Jack from climbing out of the seats, and allow me to shop for hours on end.

Help me please.

We're back in action!

Oh what I would give...

to be a HAMSTER! in only 16-20 days, these little creatures complete the cycle of childbearing! not only that, but they usually produce not one, but many offspring in one shot! can you imagine that? I bet these guys don't get cankles either?!?!



i am, however, grateful to NOT be an elephant. (although I resemble one right now) 22 MONTHS is their gestational period! i think I would have to shoot myself!



well. 9 months has almost come and gone. I say that so easily as if it hasn't been drudgery, but when you are nearing the end, somehow all those 9 months don't seem so bad.

Last Sunday we went on a walk in a nearby nature preserve and I realized I had only taken one photo of my pregnant self. For Lucy's (our baby girl) sake, i thought i should take a few for her memory book. So here they are. Me at...eek...7 1/2 months. Hard to believe the majority of belly growth is yet to come.




Thank you to the photographer, Troy. Now, does anyone know a good photoshopper for some cyber-surgery on the jowels and arms?

no computer

weep, sigh, cry...NO INTERNET right now.

Actually, no computer. Jack spilled some water on the kitchen counter by our laptop, and now it doesn't work. talk about lump in the throat. eek.

I am taking it to the apple shop today prepared for the worst. don't worry that the warranty expired Dec. 29th. another weep...sigh. wish us luck.

until then...you will have to be satisfied with old-news blogs.

Christmas Top 8 List

NUMBER 8...

Spending time with family. Jack was amused by his new cousin. He waved at him every day, secretly hoping to get in a squeeze or gentle shake.

NUMBER 7...

Watching Jack's excitement on Christmas morning. Whoa...is this tent for
me? Thanks brady and ashlin!


Hold on everybody...i've got a call on my new cell phone.

Ahhhh! You guys didn't tell me THAT was going to happen!


NUMBER 6...

Hiking along the river. Jack hiked about 1 mile by himself, but saved the last 1/2 mile for his full-bladdered, huge bellied mom to carry him uphill the rest of the way. No luck of an early delivery, though.



NUMBER 5...

Taking pictures of this little guy. Too bad all our photo shoot days were gray and dreary with dark lighting. It didn't stop carter from looking cute.


NUMBER 4...

Dishes with Grandma! Thanks to Grandma, Jack is now OBSESSED with doing dishes at the sink. On the one hand, it is a great "babysitter" that lasts about 45 minutes...BUT on the other hand, you can't tell him no or take him down without a MAJOR meltdown. Maybe we'll save this special activity for Grammy's house.

NUMBER 3...

Spending time with Great Grandparents.


NUMBER 2...

Watching Jack play the piano. I have never witnessed so many different expressions out of this kid in such a short period of time.


NUMBER 1...

Watching Jack try to figure out his Grandpa dressed as the "street corner" Salvation Army Santa. Nice dread-locked beard.

"I'm on to you, Santa"

Santa's Storybook Trainride to the North Pole

My parents bought us tickets to board the Christmas River Run train with Santa. What a treat. We sang, ate delicious gingerbread cookies, sipped hot cocoa, watched Santa and his elves, and listened to Christmas stories.

So what that Santa was a little drunk, and the river might have been dried up, and the hot cocoa may have been only luke warm. Jack still had a joyous time snuggled in his PJ's and looking out the window next to Grandma and Grandpa! Thank you for the fun Christmas memory.


Waiting to board the train

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa...this is the BEST!

More sober than Santa...best entertainer of the night

Sing-a-long...some people got into it more than others. Nice vibrato, honey!

The unfriendly Santa still managed to charm Jack.

Kisses for Mom

Jack...I said don't feed the animals.

one of Santa's reindeer? Looking for a new job in the classifieds.