The difference between men and women (or at least Laur and Trav)

Trav is really into trivia. So today he came home and said, "Guess how many players have played for the Utah Jazz since the franchise began." The answer was 214. Then came the challenge: "Can you name 20?"
Of course I can, I thought. I easily got to 8, but then it was really a struggle. Finally, after more than a half an hour, I came up with 20. He thought it was pretty hilarious b/c most of the ones I knew don't actually play for the team now, but did back when we were engaged and I would join him in watching the games more than I do now. They're pretty much no-names like Raul Lopez-- the people who never really made it big. But at least I got my 20.
Now it was my turn to challenge him. What should it be? Name 20 of the Stampin Up ink colors, 20 songs by the Dixie Chicks, 20 blogs I check frequently? I finally decided to have him name 20 stores in the University Mall, restaurants not included. It took him a half an hour to come up with those!
The double challenge was for him to name an additional 20 Jazz players after I finished, and for me to name an additional 20 stores. We each were able to do it in 5 minutes.
We each have our strengths, I suppose.

Prenatal Bonding

If we're going to be honest, this third baby has been a bit of a trial for me. First of all, I've felt worse through the whole pregnancy than any before. My freakishly low iron levels are a subject of concern to everyone involved in this baby. Second, our insurance (which I must add, we pay $400 a month for) has a $5000 maternity deductible, so every time I go to the midwife, have my blood drawn, get an ultrasound, etc. I am always thinking about how much it's costing me in the back of my mind.
It has been so stressful, and I think in some ways it has gotten in the way of me getting excited about the baby. I have had a difficult time picking a name, decorating the room, even getting out the baby clothes. Not that there were any there....
That all changed last week. I went to my typical midwife appt. and after another round of the "how can we get your iron levels up?" she measured me. Those of you who have had a baby know what I'm talking about, she takes the measuring tape and puts it at the top of my belly and stretches it down to the bottom of my belly. The number (in cm I think) is supposed to correspond with how many weeks along you are. Well, in spite of the fact that I look enormous, when she measured me I was 4 cm too small. Immediately she ordered an ultrasound to see if the baby is growing, but it was twenty minutes before the ultrasound tech could squeeze me in.
Those 20 minutes were agony. Every resentful feeling I've had about this baby flew out the window when I was presented with the chance that she might not be okay. I cried and cried as I thought about all the liver I haven't eaten and all the Take 5 bars I have. Take 5 bars do not grow healthy babies!!!! In my mind I saw this picture of a preemie baby only weighing 2 pounds that would be mine. I felt like a meth mom or something. It really was tortuous.
It was also life altering. I felt such a strong, protective urge take over me. I would do anything to make sure this baby gets all she needs to be healthy and strong when she is born. It was like the two of us united in a cause, mother and prenatal daughter. I felt that no matter what it costs, or how uncomfortable I may feel, this sweet little one is worth it and I need to fight for her. Suddenly I bonded with my baby.
The good news is that the ultrasound showed she's actually measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule (possibly not born Christmas day after all?). She is still healthy and growing just right. She just has chosen to mostly recline on my back (that explains a lot of the discomfort), so my measurements were off. I'm recommitted to making more baby-friendly choices, and I am so grateful that she's doing alright.
Since that day I have grown more and more excited about her than ever. Sure, she's definitely our most expensive child, but I wouldn't trade her for anything. I can't wait till I get to hold her in my arms and feel her sweet baby skin against my cheek, to see her eyes, nose, and face and determine if she'll follow our blond hair/blue eye tradition, and most of all, to get to know her little spirit. I already know she's going to be great.

What's in a Name?

Our baby will likely be named one of the following:
Abby, Sage, Ruby, Eve, Elizabeth, Marley, Maylee, Brynn, Eva, Ava, Ada, Jocelyn, Gabrielle, Michelle, Megan, Sarah, Meleah, Sophia, Lily, Whitney, Jane, Maeve

I've decided it's not that we don't have any names that we like, it's that we have lots of names that we like. Which is the bigger problem?

Congrats Trav!

My husband is so great. Really, I just don't know what I would do without him. Here's a little chance for me to brag about the good news of the week for him.

He won his first case!

I know that some of you are probably thinking, "Hasn't he been an attorney for a year already? And this is the first case that he won?" Let me correct you. See, at most firms, first year attorneys are basically research slaves. They never even get to try a case on their own. So, the fact that T's firm let him do this case on his own when he's so young is a big deal. He has actually been given a lot of responsibility and is doing an amazing job. So, this week he recieved the judgment for his first case that he tried completely on his own and it was a success! Yeah Trav!

As a side note, he's also been playing in a softball league this fall and we had to get a picture of Dad in his uniform with the girls. He's had a great time playing, but I consider the chief accomplishment that Anna is actually interested in playing Tball now. I say that anything that does not involve a princess toy for her is progress! Also, check out Poor Kate's forehead. She won't allow the bandaid to come off, so this is the most gruesome photo I can take of her carnage.

Snapfish Deal

Here's another www.snapfish.com deal. 50 prints for 50 cents. I only ordered 50 this time, and my total was 3.97 with shipping. It's awesome!
The coupon code is FALLPENNY08. Use it at checkout.

Poor Kate

Oh, man. I hope that we don't have a weekend like this one for a long time.

Saturday morning we were moving things from the Camry into the new minivan. The girls love the van, so they were just playing around in there. Somehow, Anna pushed the button that closes the doors and it shut poor Kate's thumb in there. We got it out right away, but it was a mess-- all mangled and purple. Immediately she and I set off for the Instacare. She stopped crying by the time we got there, and then started crying again as soon as she saw the doctor. She has a major fear of medical personnel. They did some Xrays (her first), but since I'm pregnant I couldn't be in there to hold her on my lap. So, for the sweet little thing's first Xray she had to go it alone, with mom giving her a thumbs up from the window! I felt so bad for her, but it turned out that she was fine. Apparently, children's fingers have an amazing resiliency to getting shut in things.

Then on Sunday we were getting ready to go watch the afternoon session of conference at Trav's mom's house. we had just gotten Kate's shoes on her and she took off running. (Have I mentioned that she runs everywhere she goes?) Anyway, she tripped and fell smack into the corner of our wall. Trav picked her up quickly. She was gushing blood from her forehead. Luckily we were ready to go, so we jumped in the car and went to the Instacare again. But, on the way to the Instacare we got stopped at a train (curses on trains!!!). I couldn't handle waiting, so I turned around and went to the ER in Provo instead. This actually turned out to be a blessing, as the ER told us the Instacare would have sent her over anyway. (Just in case this ever happens to you, Instacare can do stitches, but not really for little children like Kate. And, if it happens on the face, you should probably go to the ER anyway because they have doctors that are really practiced at stitches.)

The ER was amazingly wonderful. They got us in right away, gave her a little sedative. This was optional, but since I know that Kate freaks out just seeing a doctor walk in the room, I knew she'd never sit still for him to stitch up her face. The sedative was fast acting and effective and the doctor completed the stitches relatively painlessly. She has 2 internal stitches (the cut went all the way to her skull!) and 8 external. So far she is not too concerned about it, and if you ask how her owie is feeling, she shows you the hurt thumb from Saturday and says "Good."

Watching Kate come out of the anesthesia was pretty hilarious. She was VERY concerned about the oxygen monitor on her toe and kept saying "light off toe." She was tipsy like a little drunkard, but when Travis asked her if she was loopy she said, "No, I Kate." She was a little wobbly for a few hours, but other than that, she did great.

I'm so grateful that everything went as well as it could have for her this weekend. I know accidents happen to kids, and I am glad that these were relatively minor. it was scary when it happened, but it's over now and we're no worse for wear. Except for our wall. It has a permanent cave-in mark from her head.

The End of an Era

This post is a farewell to our dear Jeep. It has been a part of my life for the last 16 years-- first as my mom's car, then as my teenage car, then as Trav's car since his blew up like 2 days before we got married. The Jeep has been good to us, it's had few problems and lots of memories. But with another baby coming, we just can't fit in our car anymore, so the Jeep has to go. We actually feel pretty good about the trade-in value considering the water pump is broken, the AC doesn't work, and there's no stereo.

But really, this post is a memory post. Today I feel nostalgic for the days gone by, and the cute little Jeep that was part of so many memories.

Memories in my Jeep:

1. Road trips. Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, river rafting in Colorado, boating in Lake Powell. What was better than sitting in the backseat with a bunch of snacks and pillows and your best friend?

2. Driving it for the first time on some remote road in Southern Utah. Do you remember how scared we were? We wouldn't go over 15 mph!

3. Really learning to drive in it, taking it to the DMV for my driver's test. I was so nervous. I remember my dad taking me to the DMV and then on a daddy daughter date after I passed the test.

4. It was my high school car. there was a day that poor Jeep got 2 parking tickets within 4 hours b/c I was too lazy to park on the range when I was late for school. So, I parked by the seminary building, and when I went out to get it I noticed a ticket. Then there were still no spots in the regular parking lot, so I parked in faculty parking and got another ticket!

5. I was driving the Jeep the first time I got pulled over, right in front of the high school. How I heard about that from friends the next day!

6. I had a super fun road trip to Cedar City with friends right after graduation. Probably none of those guys even check my blog, but I remember our good time Jeremy, Ashlee, and John!

7. I started college with this car. I remember packing all my worldly possessions into it and moving into my first apartment. I love everyone from Hogle Hall!

8. Seriously, two days before we got married, Travis's car died on the freeway. My nice parents gave him the Jeep to use, which saved us from having to make a car payment until now. (I had since moved on to the ill-fated Jetta).

9. We've always taken the Jeep on our little family campouts b/c more stuff fits. I love camping with my kids because everything is an adventure to them. My kids love the "Jeepie" because anytime they ride in it, it's because we're going to do something fun.

Hopefully the minivan will have as many good times with our family.

Check out my huge belly!