Seasonal Depression or Spring Fever?

I've been waiting this whole time to find something to write about, and still nothing. As I was catching up reading other blogs, I found myself saddened. It seems I have the most boring life of anyone I know. Maybe I've worked too many days this week to be happy about much, or maybe I don't know how to organize my time. I feel like I live in this little bubble and take care of P. That's all I do. Taking care of him is not my complaint, I love it! (Comparing myself to others, though I know I'm not supposed to) My complaint is that I (we) don't ever do anything! I see other families going places...to concerts, to play dates, and just dates in general, and I kind of got depressed. Why? Am I really that boring that I don't even KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? Am I so consumed in my little world that I don't know how to find out about fun things for my family? While talking to Evan, he mentioned my priorities. Is fun time a priority? YES! How are these people doing fun things, whilst I sit here in my cave, counting down the minutes to nap time so I can do the dishes? I realized that I need to make plans to make plans for stuff outside my mommy world.


Excuse number 2: "He requires too much attention". But does he? I feel bad if I put him in his car seat and don't play with him every couple of hours. I'm not a smotherer, but I like to watch him play and learn. I interact. So....? How are these other moms of many getting anything done? I know it's tons harder than with one, but really? How do they do it?
Where are all these fun projects coming from? I would also like to sew a quilt and make cards for my whole neighborhood, but I can't even blog once a week, so where does everyone's time come from?


As I was woeing and lamenting last night to sweet Evan, he mentioned, "look at my life! If you think you're bored, try mine!" This my friends, is true! He spends all day with algorithms. I dare say, my life isn't that bad...
We do spend at least 3 days walking around Costco for fun. I go running with P every morning at the indoor track. We've been getting over our colds and stuffy noses. We pick up my friend's kids from school every day and take them to day care. P is learning to sit up-we're almost there! Etc...
I guess there is something exciting with me... I should post a picture.... I have had this REALLY red patch of skin in both my armpits. Kinda wierd. It appeared around Christmas time, and got worse. It itched like crazy and was VERy dry and scaly. I've been using Eucerin a lot on it, but it was still there. Evan said it looked like a fungus, like athletes foot, so I bought some OTC cream for it, and nothing happened. I finnally got the nerve to go to the Dr. and he told me it looked like a fungus AND an allergic reaction-contact dermatitis. Where in the world would I get a fungus in my armpits?! I don't even sweat there. Whatever. He prescribed a cream with antifungul and topical steroids to treat it, then an antifungal for the next 6 weeks after it heals. In case this facinating story needs a conclusion, and if you're still reading, it is feeling better, thank you. A LOT better. It almost looks like real skin again. Actually it is pretty exciting.

If you made it to this point, congratulations. You can call yourself a friend, and a pretty darn good listener. Here's your reward...

Angels, Truck Drivers, and Solid Foods

If you have little children, I think you'll relate. There are angels in my house. Not the floating kind you think of when you think of angels. I'm talking about the invisible kind. Porter often looks at them, laughs at them, and I believe, talks to them. There is one corner of his bedroom that he stares at, night or day. There is nothing spectacular about this corner, no lights, no color, just a plain old ceiling, yet he seems to fixate at that spot as often as possible. He will smile, and coo, and often just stare. I believe we have angels at our house. Maybe he's getting instuctions for this long, hard life here, or maybe they're his old friends who haven't come down yet. I think it's just Heavenly Father's way of blessing our home. Porter is the sweetest boy. I often wonder what he'll grow up to be. No matter what it is, I'll think it'll be absolutely great. I hold the moon for him.

He has this little walker that has a car steering wheel and lights and sounds like a truck. He LOVES it! He will giggle and squeal, and live it up. Hence his truck driver pose. He will never stay smiling once he sees the orange light on the camera. We often lose precious poses because of it. Hence, we post the ones that work out.

Friday we started giving him a little rice cereal. I think the pictues speak for itself. He leans in to the spoon, and actually swallows the food! What a pro!

Lifetime Acheivements

My Sister-in-law has this list on her blog. And I made one for me:

Things I have done during my lifetime are in bold.
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train. (in Spain)
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitchhiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held an alligator.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. (Alaska)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (does my husband’s count?)
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. ( though I speak Spanish)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (helped pay for school)
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter. (Yeah, Blackhawk!)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Been to Canada.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Seen Bon Jovi in concert.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. (kindergarten I think)
85. Read Gone With The Wind.
86. Visited the White House. (not inside…)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own.

Out with the old- in with the new

I have a long list of improvements I want to make in our home. Like, a ridiculously long list. Knowing we don't have the money, I've kept a vocal list going occasionally for the short term things on my list. My husband would agree with me, reiterating that we didn't have money right now. He surprised me for Christmas with 3 things from my list! I think you'll agree they're worthy changes. I love them. I wanted to wait until we picked up the stove to post all the pictures. Evan's an amazing guy and I love him. Here he is putting in the faucet. Thanks Babe!

Life as we know it

I think this picture could explain it all. Evan is currently in his final semester of school. FOREVER!!!!! His Ph.D. graduation requirements are: publish 3 papers, finish all grad student classes, and write and defend his dissertation.

Thus far we are at: published 1 paper, and currently taking final 2 classes. The goal is June...

This is what Evan spends all day doing when not in class. He is revising his 2nd paper, due this week and then we're looking at the bright lights at the end of our long, long tunnel. I offered my support by telling him to stay at school to do whatever it takes to meet deadlines this semester. He took me up on it, and I'm so glad he did. From sun up to sun down, this is where he's been. I take dinner to him, put P down to bed, and don't see him until the baby cries in the morning. I love him for all his hard work and desires to support our family! Love you babe. See you this summer!

To Resolute, or not to Resolute?

I'm not sure about New Years Resolutions. I didn't make any this year. I tend to think making goals once a year is bogus. Not the making goals part, but the once a year part. Short-term goals are easier, and the pressure is much less there than the burden on your shoulders of a year-long, try to be good, cause last year it fizzled out at week 6 plan.
I do, however make goals. I am constantly trying to be better at this, and do better at that all the time. My goals are usually weekly oriented. Eat better this week, or be more patient, clean more, excercise more, prepare early for lessons, things like that. I do love the accomplishment that comes with a goal finished, and a self more organized and happier. Thanks '09 for the recolection that my goals are constant!
Auld Lang Syme? What does that mean anyway?

New Year '09

This New Years we spent with some of Evan's "old" friends from high school. I affectionately call them the Nerd Herd. Thanks guys, it was fun!

Who is the nerdiest one of all?