My cute niece helped me paint my nails green will gold polka dots last night and that was about all I did for the holiday. Parker said he didn't need to wear green because of his eyes. Saint Patrick's Day rules clearly state you must wear green. Sorry darling, you do not wear your eyes.
But we are putting together our brackets and have already watched quite a bit of basketball. On Saturday Parker gets to go watch at the Energy Solutions Arena (cough Delta Center). He is little-boy-on-Christmas-Eve excited about it.
If you aren't sure about how to go about making your picks, check out this video.
In other (much more) exciting news I am in the last week of my first trimester. Crossing my fingers for a little more energy and a little less morning (noon and night) sickness. Counting my blessings that our little one is growing healthy and strong.
And although it is still early my sister introduced me to these little books and I am really excited about them.
Monday we went in for our first appointment with the doctor. We had an appointment with the nurse a few weeks ago. But that was just to finish my paperwork and have my labs done. To my surprise they weren't going to use any of that blood (and they took a lot) to confirm pregnancy. The nurse asked "Have you taken an at home test?" I said yes and left out the part that I had actually taken four. She told me that that was all the conformation they needed. Okay... But what about the conformation I needed? She told me at our next appointment we would have an ultrasound.
3 weeks later we came back.
While we waited for the doctor I was (really) nervous.
But there was no reason to be.
We saw the baby right away. Our little one was waving at us and moving all around.
I thought I would cry. I thought Parker would cry. But we didn't. We just stared at the little image in complete wonder and amazement. We saw the heart, heard the heartbeat. I let out an audible sigh when doctor told us everything looked perfect.
Perfect.
I felt peace and overwhelming gratitude. I could have stayed in that room looking at that screen all day. Watching those little arms move up and down. I couldn't stop smiling. It was even more amazing than everyone said it would be.
Parker came home and proudly put the pictures up on the fridge.
Sometimes when I am straightening up I'll pick up a Phillies hat, move a pair of size fifteen Nikes, or pause before I close the closet door long enough to touch the sleeve of his suit coat hanging next to my dresses.
When I see his things, side by side with mine, they become our things. Part of our life. And I realize I can't quite remember what life was like when it was just my own. Life is different now, better...
Someday (in about 7 months) when I am straightening up I'll pick up a bottle, move a bouncer, and pause while folding a small blanket long enough to soak it all in. I'll look at Parker and we will realize we can't quite remember what life was like when it was just our own. Life will be different, better...
We are over the moon to announce that Little Robertson is on the way and already reshaping our world into something better than we could have ever imagined.
Today I have been remembering the man who gave me this,
The day we met my dad had taken me to lunch, and there sat Herm Franks alone in the corner. My dad recognized him instantly and began to tell me everything about him. How he was a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cardinals. He was a well know scout, coach, and manager. Herman Franks coached big names like Willie Mays. He is also supposed to have been a key player in legendary sign stealing scandal in 1951. He was a coach for the New York Giants at the time. It has be said that he was in the center field clubhouse during the games, with a telescope giving him a clear view of the Dodgers pitching coach and the signs he was making to his players, and would signal his team to let them know what pitch was coming. Of course throwing a game isn't what you want to remembered for, but without a doubt he was part of a baseball legend.
I was lost in my dads stories soaking them up when Herm Frank approached our table.
"Are you going to finish that?"
No introduction, he just pointed at my half eaten piece of pie and asked if I was going to finish it. I replied something like No sir I think, I was kind of nervous. He sat down at our table, pulled my plate in front of him and started to finish my pie. My dad asked him questions and between bites Herm Franks told us about the first time he saw Willie Mays play ball.
We ran into Herman Franks a couple times after that. We would eat pie and talk baseball. I finally worked up the courage to ask him if he had actually stolen the pitching signs. I remember how he put down his fork, looked me in the eye, got very serious and said, "That's what they say" then he smiled and went back to his pie.
The last time I saw him he pulled out that baseball card. It was from his days as a catcher. He signed To Jess in blue ink, and then his pen died. We could only find a black pen, so his name is signed in black.
When we go back to that place where I sat with Herm Franks, I always take a moment to remember the kind man who lived for baseball, and finished my pie.
Once a year the good old ACC hosts the Valentines Sweetheart Ball. And once a year my mom sends out an invitation to all of us girls asking us to join her and my dad for a night of dinner and dancing. Once a year, we all go. It may be because the food is so good, it is nice to get together as adults, or because it is fun to have a fancy night out for Valentines day, but every year we all go. And I am glad we do!
Horrible picture quality it was bad lighting and we only had iPhones but.... here is my dad with all the girls.
My parent are the best, they could dance all night long.
So glad we could make it! Parker and I joke that it is like prom for adults, but we really enjoy it.
Do you ever have weekends that feel a little wasted?? When you are too tired, or there is too much cleaning to be done, or you have extra work, so your big weekend plans consist of watching a movie..... And then it's Monday again.
Thanks to the negative temperatures and horrible smog we have had a few of those recently.
We needed an electric shock to our weekend routine, and this weekend provided the perfected opportunity. It was jam packed and we had so much fun I just had to share.
First we had visitors up here in Logan. My sister Jill and her family came up Friday. We hung out, the kids did clay projects, we ate yummy food, and we swam and swam and swam!!
Colter and Landon are such great swimmers. They also have a weird love of belly flopping. They think it is so funny... and it kind of is!
Tayla is giggling now. Awww. Her hair got so curly just being near the water. I watched it turn into a fro.
And on Saturday afternoon we all headed to Alpine together. A group of 17 of us went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner, and I am such a fan! There was a lot of Ultimate Fighting playing, the whole place was packed with crazy fans, which made for a fun new experience. I had no idea there was such a big fan base in the U.C. for those fights.
Then we all headed back to mom and dads to set up for the Super Bowl. Set up meaning decorate. Because when you have a family of five girls you decorate for big parties.... Even if that party is the Super Bowl.
Sunday was so much fun. All of us were together for the first time in a while.We had a Pig Skin themed dinner. EVERYTHING had pork in it. We (Parker) made pork tacos that were a huge hit. We had pulled pork sandwiches, pork ribs, peanut butter chocolate chip BACON cookies, bacon flavored pop corn, and on and on.
I was cheering for San Francisco.
1. Because I had a SF t-shirt
2. Because head coach Jim Harbaugh, is the younger brother in that brother rivalry
3. The last fan base to win both the World Series and the Super Bowl in the same year was the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox and I am over that!
4. Mostly because Cullen Little said they would win. Dang it Cullen.
Most of the kids were cheering for Baltimore because they have a few players from BYU. Annnd because they have 5 Mormons on their team which is the highest number of Mormons on any NFL team! (I haven't fact checked it yet..... )
At least it ended up being close game. Although my favorite part of the whole night might have been the power outage.
