Ducks and Spiders

During my trip to Maryland last month, I heard the following story and couldn't resist sharing:

When my sister was about 3 years old, she heard my father "release gas." Not wanting to let on that it was him, he turned to her and said that she had just heard a duck. Her reply: "A duck pooping its pants?"

P.S. My sister is hilarious and apparently always has been.

Yes, indeed

I was starting to feel bad about not keeping my home as clean as I would like, but then I read this quote and realized that not keeping my home clean was actually an act of charity. I am so generous.

"The only advantage in not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are." ---Eleanor Roosevelt

A veritable "light-bulb" in the night

While Michael falls instantly to sleep, most nights I lie awake in bed for HOURS trying to will myself into unconsciousness. I must say, though, the wee hours of the morning when I'm half-asleep have proven to be great times to think things through. On one such night, not too long ago, I found myself thinking about what I want to be when I "grow up." When I was younger I had three goals: being a wife, mother, and piano teacher. As it turns out I've accomplished all 3 of those already, so I figured I needed some additional goals. I fully acknowledge that being a wife and a mother is a life-long thing, not simply a one-day-only event. That being said, I felt there was something else I should be doing.

During my various stints in college I threw around a LOT of ideas, including (but not limited to): dentistry, psychiatry, music teaching, sociology, home & family living, music, music, and more music. None of those felt right. While on my mission to Arizona I thought I might find some insight in to what I should major in. Nope. I got a husband and a child out of that mission, but no major. So imagine my surprise when at around 1 am on this night mentioned earlier, while lying in bed, I should receive the answer to this question.

I have had a very personal interest in psychology for a number of years and have felt on numerous occasions that people's perception of "therapy" and the type of people who need it, are way off-base. I have also noticed a growing number of young women with pretty much insane views of themselves, what they think beautiful is, etc., etc. SO. I want to major in Public Health Promotion, with a Business Management Minor. With this degree I'm hoping to set up a non-profit (or work within an organization that already exists) to promote mental health awareness among young women. I would love to travel to different schools, working within the health curriculum already established, to teach special classes on mental health. I haven't worked out all the particulars of how to do this and what exactly I want to teach, but yeah. That's the basic idea. I also want to learn self-defense and teach that to young women.

Nighttime is the right time for me to think. And to learn.

Hargiss' Lately

In the last month Michael and I have been blessed to see a bit of my family. We were in MD for a week during Michael's Spring Break. While there we ate a LOT of good food (a staple of any worthwhile vacation), went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, toured parts of Washington D.C., had a great "Baby Party" for Isla with some of our wonderful friends, and mostly (and I think most importantly) spent time with my family. Here are some pictures of our fun:

Jacob had a good time carrying Isla around for the day. He's a good brother.
This is at the Air and Space Museum in D.C.

Also at the Air and Space

Air and Space

Air and Space

View of the Washington Monument from inside the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial in D.C.

Vietnam War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

I love the feeling I get when I'm in our Nation's Capitol. The people of this country may not be perfect, but I know I am blessed to live here. This is a choice land, and I love it. So many people have sacrificed SO much for our freedom---I will be forever grateful for them. Places like the Vietnam War Memorial serve as a much-needed (and too often taken for granted) reminder of these sacrifices. We should never forget how blessed we are.


While in MD, one of my best friends took some pictures of Isla. To see some of them, click here. I'm thoroughly convinced that I have the prettiest baby EVER. She should be the new face of Gerber. Here are some of my favorite pictures that didn't end up on the website:






This past weekend my brother Jacob came out to UT for a visit, and to see General Conference live. I have such a blast when he's around. I'm glad Phillip lives close so I can see him as well. It's fun to see Jake interact with Isla---he is going to make one lady very, very, lucky someday as an amazing husband and father.

Believe it or not, he put her to sleep for me :)

And last but not least, here is a video from last night in which we are attempting to feed Isla some rice cereal for the first time. Our fabulous neighbors (the Coleman's) were over for the blessed event. I swear every time they leave our house I turn to Michael and say, "We have the best neighbors ever." Everyone should be so lucky.

I had no idea

I never knew love could feel this way...I had heard it could happen when you see your child for the first time. But like so many things in life, I didn't really believe it until I had experienced it for myself. I loved her the moment I saw her. I have the most beautiful daughter in the world, and although I am more tired than I've ever been (including while serving a mission...which is saying something), I am also so so insanely happy. And it's not just because I can finally eat again without worrying about vomiting.

Michael and I could stare at her all day long and never get bored. In fact, that's what I find myself doing most days. She has quite the repertoire of amusing facial expressions and I love how small she is. All of her clothes are too big but I wouldn't mind if she stayed this size forever.

This was taken at the hospital

I am also more in love with my husband than ever. He is such a fabulous Dad. He has changed more diapers than I have by far (wonderful, right?!), and he'll wake up with her at night so I can sleep. I love watching him while he's with her---the way he smiles at her, or sings to her, or just holds her and watches her sleep. I knew he was incredible when we got married and I figured he would be a good father (which was one reason I married him) but I had no idea just how good of a father he would end up being. I am now even more thoroughly convinced that I have the best husband ever. The absolute best for me.

And here's why

I love my husband. Here's why:

Exhibit A: He looks hot in a uniform (he's second from the right)



Exhibit B: He has impressive skills with a rifle (he's second from the left)



Exhibit C: He's good at letting me know he loves me...like when he brought me these flowers this morning for no reason.




Bottom line: I am a very blessed lady.

Mission Impossible...?

I've decided that since my general opinion of being pregnant is that it's positively horrible, I would try and find at least 5 things about it that I love. Here is what I've been able to come up with so far (in no particular order of importance):

1. Strangers do random nice things for you in public (like wait for over a minute for me to get to the door so they can hold it open for me).
2. Michael (who has always been the epitome of helpful) has managed somehow to become even more wonderful. Now that I'm so huge he even helps me put my shoes on and take them off since it hurts to bend over.
3. Michael is willing to sleep in what he considers to be freezing temperatures so that I can be comfortable.
4. Michael talks to my belly. The other day he asked the baby if she would say hi to daddy, and not even a second later she kicked a few times so he could feel. It was pretty awesome.
5. Cravings. Before I was pregnant I thought they would get to be annoying....but I love them. For instance: a few weeks ago I really wanted meatloaf. Really really bad. SO I got to make it and eat it for dinner 2 times in one week. And Michael let me. Recently I have also found myself craving taco's and cocoa puffs. And who wouldn't love that?! P.S. I don't eat the taco's and cocoa puffs together. That would be nasty.
6. When I talk with my Mom it's fun to hear her talk about pregnancy and actually know what she's talking about. I feel like it's helped me get to know her so much better. It's also made me appreciate SO much more, all that my Mother has done for me over the years starting with when she was pregnant with me. She had my sister already who was 18 months old at the time and was just as sick as I have been. Getting up to chase after my sister made her throw up...moving in general made her throw up and yet she did it anyway. And now, 24 years later she's still just as self-sacrificing and wonderful. Man, I love my Mom.

I think I'll stop there for today...I've started crying...haha I am definitely still pregnant.

Mission to feel better about pregnancy: accomplished.