Could You Resist These Shoes?

I didn't think so.

Neither could I.

They weren't even on sale!
And I am even mildly opposed to the idea of buying shoes
for non-walking babies.

But I bought them anyway.
And yes, I totally got Mabel a matching pair.

The Rains Came

This is what it looks like outside right now.
(Please notice that the curbs have completely disappeared
and the water is lapping at our front lawn.
I promise it looks more impressive in real life.)
It is during times like these that I am glad our house was built on a rise.

There's a car hidden somewhere in that big splash.

It's a really good thing I watered the grass this morning.

Our street is a river.
Our trash can just floated away and I wasn't about to run outside and stop it.

I guess this means we can't go swimming for FHE tonight.

Today is my Grammy's Birthday

here she is in action in June

My Grammy is the kind of lady who always looks fabulous.
She doesn't nearly look her age.

My Grammy is the kind of person who throws great parties.
She has about a million friends.

My Grammy is the kind of grandmother who comes to all of your important events.
She loves watching her great grandchildren play and cuddling the new babies.

She is an amazing cook, seamstress, and decorator.
But mostly she is just an amazing person.

I love you Grammy!

Barefoot No More

I gave in.
I joined the masses.
I bought Crocs.











Here's the thing:
My feet ache. Like all the time.
I can't stand up in my kitchen for more than 2 minutes without pain.
My shoe of choice (my favorite flip flops- Havaianas) don't give my poor feet the support they need anymore.
Afterall, these feet of mine are already carrying an extra 15 pounds thanks to Miss Stella.
And in my current pregnant state, my joints just aren't what they used to be.
Plus, it's at least a million degrees where I live and I simply can't bear the thought of putting on socks and sneakers.

I love them.

My Bump

Upper Back Fat and Other General Squishiness

Reason #5:
(This one isn't limited to gender.)

There just isn't anything sweeter than a new baby.















Mabel at a couple months

I love their little noises, their little faces, and their super heavenly smell.

I am so blessed to be having another one (it really didn't matter if it was a boy or a girl!). In this day, when it seems that infertility is everywhere I look, I am reminded again and again how lucky I am to be able to bear my children. My heart aches for those who cannot.

My children are my life and I like it that way. I love my role as a mother. There isn't anything I would rather do. I can't wait to meet Miss Stella and to see her personality emerge. She is making our family more complete. It is going to be fun (and sometimes stressful, I know) to have a new baby in the house.

But we are ready.

Vintage-y Florals and Green Checks

Reason #4 that I am glad we are having another girl:

I get to decorate a girly nursery.

When we had Mabel, we were young and we were poor. I was very practical and made all of her crib bedding unisex. It was a pretty green toile, and though I really loved it, it wasn't quite as girly as I would have liked.

I have since made it up to her and she has the pinkest bedroom one can imagine.

Stella's room will based on these three lovely fabrics and a dark red crib (which, by the way, would totally work for a boy in the future). I am excited. Now, if the weather would just cool off a bit (or a lot!) so I could get started on that crib. The thought of sanding furniture in this heat makes me want to pass out. I guess that will have to wait until October.

Sisters

Reason #3:

Mabel will have a sister.

(me and my lil sis, Jooj, back in 1999, or so, when overalls were apparently very "in")

Even though they will be 5 years apart,
I know that someday Mabel and Stella will be the best of friends.
I am lucky.
I have 2 fabulous sisters.
I don't know what I would do without them.
They are the smartest and most beautiful women I know.


(Although he is smart and beautiful, too,
please ignore my little brother, Lincoln, in this picture.
This post is about sisters, afterall.
Here are Julianne, Leslie, and me in 1998.)

Knit 5, Purl 5, Repeat

Reason #2 :

I finally get to finish the blanket I started over a year and half ago
when I thought we'd have another baby a whole lot sooner.

It is a lovely, soft, cashmere ball of goodness.

Anybody have any good hand-cramp remedies?

My knitting skills are sorely out of practice.

Scooter

Reason #1* that I am glad we are having another girl:
(not that I wouldn't have loved another boy)

I get to use the name Stella.

When I was growing up, we had a pedigree chart hanging on the wall in our house. My favorite name on the chart belonged to my maternal great grandmother, Sadie Stella V. I thought it was absolutely beautiful-- the perfect name. But I always loved the Stella part best.

Once I was pregnant with Mabel (after we had already decided on her name) I fell in love with the name Sadie. I was convinced that I would name my next baby Sadie Rose.

Then came Oliver. He was heavenly and completely adorable, but I still dreamed of having a girl named Sadie someday (although at this point her name had changed to Sadie Stella).

Until a few weeks ago, I was sure that this baby would have that lovely name (if she was a girl, of course). But, as I lay in bed one night, unable to sleep, I had a thought: This baby should be a Stella, not a Sadie.

Mike says I am fickle. But really, I've loved the name Stella ever since I can remember. Her middle name is up for grabs (I want Rose, but Mike isn't so sure). Any suggestions?

*these reasons are in no particular order

Oliver's Turn

color blue
food pears
drink root beer
book train
toy train
person parker
animal dinosaur
place hawaii
game wii sports
thing to do help daddy in the backyard picking up oranges
thing to wear clothes

Mabel and her Favorites

color pink
food oatmeal
drink milk
book the bambi one
toy animals
person mom
animal zebra
place home
game hungry hungry hippos
thing to do play
thing to wear (or only thing she'll wear) pink dresses

Me

Where is your cell phone? upstairs
Relationship? solid
Your hair? blonde
Work? neverending
Your sisters? pretty
Your favorite thing? family
Your dream last night? forgotten
Your favorite drink? dr pepper
Your dream car? right now?- minivan (lame, I know)
The room you’re in? den
Your shoes? too hot for shoes
Your fears? bad people
What do you want to be in 10 years? the same
Who did you hang out with this weekend? in-laws
What are you not good at? public speaking
Muffin? anything without nuts
One of your wish list items? minivan
Where you grew up? Villa Park, CA
Last thing you did? picked up toys
What are you wearing? maternity clothes
What aren’t you wearing? socks
Your pet? no thanks
Your computer? mac
Your life? perfect
Your mood? bored
Missing? Maui
What are you thinking about right now? tomorrow
Your car? bmw x5 (want it? it's for sale)
Your kitchen? messy
Your summer? HOT
Your favorite color? pink
Last time you laughed? this evening
Last time you cried? this morning (sacrament meeting was really good and I am really emotional right now)
School? yuck
Love? mike
Nick name? honey (but only mike can call me that)

My Boy

Mike is almost 30

Well, not really.
But today he turns 28.

Happy birthday, Honey!

Say hello to Stella

Here she is, enjoying the lovely view from my belly.

Our waitress was no photographer.

One night,
my parents watched our kids and sent us next door
to the Four Seasons for dinner.
It was delicious.
Mike snapped a quick photo during our walk over.
(Aren't we cute?)

During our sunset dinner,
our waitress took our picture.
Here are her dismal attempts:

She was really nice and a great waitress.
But I wish our pictures had turned out as well as our food.

Paradise

After spending a heavenly week at my mom's house,
we boarded a plane for Maui.
All 25 of us.

Leslie, Miles, Neal, Mabel, Parker, Mike, Audrey, Lincoln, Mimi
On the way to the hotel, our shuttle broke down in the middle of the street.
The shuttle service certainly lived up to it's name (Speedy Shuttle)
and very promptly sent a replacement.
Until it came, we waited in the shade.
It was exciting.

The hotel was lovely.

The beach was sandy.

Mabel, Mike, Oliver, Ginger, Sophie, Emma
Apparently, the fish food was stinky.
The kids fed the humongous fish that lived in the hotel pond.
Mabel held her nose the entire time.

We had a very nice time.

We also discovered just how stubborn Oliver can be.

Here he is not apologizing to Audrey for smashing her fingers in the door.

While we were there

Mabel turned 5, decorated her own cake, and got a scooter.

Oliver discovered his love of baseball and fixing bikes.

Then the kids played at my mom's house

in their skivvies.

First we went to California

where the kids made yummy peanut butter cookies and did other fun things you can read about here at my Grammy's fabulous house.

It feels like we've been gone forever.

But now we are home.

If anyone still reads this sad little blog,
stay tuned for some pictoral highlights of our
extremely epic three week vacation.