Happy to know it's good for something

Just read the headline. It says it all.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28072038/

MOMS, I NEED YOU

So Greg's cousin did this on her blog, and I really enjoyed reading it and found it helpful.

I'm starting the whole baby registry and bargin hunting thing and I would like to know what experienced moms have found/find useful, and what they really could have done without. I'm going to attempt to get the things that I can really use. We don't have a lot of space in our apartment, and the chances of moving around a bit in the next couples years are highly likely. So if you will, moms, please post any personal purchasing tips that you have. Or you can email me, nordstromemily@yahoo.com.


Oh and a more specific question, I have been looking into Happy Heiny diapers, has anyone used the cloth pocket diapers? I know they are an initial investment, but possibly well worth it.

Due Date

So we are looking at March 5 as the due date, the real due date is March 16, but I'm going early. Some people already know, but because I have a weird blood clotting gene- Leiden Factor V, I have to get shots every night to thin my blood. Because of this, my doctor is timing everything -being on the shots, coming off, having the baby, getting back on the shots. So as a result I have to be induced. So March 5 is it; at least that is what our Doctor told us to plan on. I'll have to admit, it is nice to schedule the birth around Greg's crazy school schedule. We won't have any surprises before a mid-term this way, and he can let his professors know in advance.

I have learned some things about pregnancy now that I am in the middle of it. Let me share a few.

1- I don't like the term Preggo or Preggers. I can only compare hearing it to chewing tin foil. If you like them, I'm sorry, but honestly, it just sounds so white trash. (Now I know as I'm writing this, that some people I really like have used these words with me...don't worry, I don't think less of you. I'll probably just call you white trash behind your back :) Kidding.)

2- I didn't really understand the idea of my body becoming public property until I started to show. I've heard it from many woman and had fair warning, but I don't think anything prepares you for all the out stretched hands that seem to come for you. It is still me. Granted there is some weird wiggling feeling always going on, but the outside part is all me.

3- Strangers just assume you are a nice person when you are pregnant...and that you want to be their best friend, and tell them all about your entire life...if you have a tummy. It is so funny to me. I had a total stranger garage sale lady give me her phone number so she could come over and "be a grandma". And no, she wasn't a cute white-haired woman that smelled like moth balls and peppermint, she was really odd, and kind of creepy.

4- People like to feed you. I don't know why this happens. I seem to get first dibs at work, special treat surprises, and a total waiver to eat whatever I want...like I have no consequences or something. Maybe people assume that if they feed you, they have somehow taken part in you stomach growing that much more. Then when they reach out to touch your belly, it is more like they are touching part of some stock they have purchased. I don't know.

5- I forget everything, trip over everything (not entirely new), and I'm still trying to figure out how the female body can do half the things it does. In many ways, I am more fascinated then anything.

6- Advice. People love to give advice. This was something I was fully anticipating, and honestly, I don't mind. I really like hearing from people what they've learned, so advise away. I may not use all the info people share, but at least I'm getting an idea of my options.

7- I'll have to say, one thing I love is how excited people are for you. I love that we live in a country where people love babies. I know how excited I am, and Greg is, but to hear it from other people just makes it that much better...and I appreciate the kind words. Especially at work. I thought people would be annoyed that I was pregnant, but they have been the most supportive. Perhaps it is cause none of them are from Mormon land, and don't see babies all the times like a lot of us do.

I am so excited to be a mom, I can't believe how quickly it is coming on. I feel like I am going to be pregnant for another year...but no.

Life is good.

Normally I like to see photos on blogs, but I don't really have any relating to this. However, Greg and I did have our 2 year anniversary last month. Should have blogged, but you know, I'm pregnant. I forget. So here is a picture before we went out to dinner. I love him. We ate great food, and had great company together.

20 weeks

Oh, and it's a boy!!

]

It's Official

I get to go out and buy a wardrobe of these in March!! Greg is super excited.

Arizona Give-Away

Can I just say that I just don't know how so many people are able to fit in what seems like everyday blogging? I just don't have the time. Someday I will post a real update of my life. But in the meantime...

I've decided to join the give-away band-wagon and offer a special flavor of Arizona. Most give-aways feature some homemade gift the author has handcrafted, but like blogging, I have no time to make anything. But if you leave a comment on my blog you could win this...

An exciting pack of Larvets, straight from Tucson (sorry, not the whole display case). They are genuine seasoned larvae. Leave your comment by September 28th for a chance at this mouth-watering goodness.

Sunshine Generation

I just got this video footage from my sister Natalie. You can guess who she is (the tall one), and I need to add that she is humiliated by the whole thing. I am the innocent one, sustaining the eye injury. You can also guess who is older, and took her role very seriously. Natalie is making me clarify that she has done away with her bossy ways.

Was anyone else part of this joyous sunshiny group? I miss my yellow and orange dress. I don't know that this presentation truly is a sunshine generation performance, but it definitely explains some dance moves I have seen Natalie use in her later years.

I'm a Grandma

I've decided to bypass children and children's children altogether and go straight to becoming a Grandma. Recently I've discovered a new hobby shared by many senior citizens. You may have seen them in your local community. They are determined, driven and early rising "mall walkers". Now I can't say that I have quite graduated to a "mall walker" but I am definitely the second cousin known as the "arena walker". I find myself growing tired of the Arizona heat, and really dislike staying in my office all day. I used to go for walks in a beautiful neighborhood near campus, but those days will not be back until November. In the meantime, I've discovered that just down campus from me is the McKale Center arena. It is the sports arena here at the University of Arizona. I walked there for lunch today and was immediately drawn to it by the high powered air-conditioning. I looked around and sure enough, I saw business dress with tennis shoes doing laps around the 2nd floor walkway. I of course only had flip-flops on but I was down. You can imagine how my confidence rose as people I passed commented on my speediness. "Look out for Speedy" and "Hey, I commend you, you've already lapped me twice." I have no shame in admitting that I will now spend my lunches doing laps with the elderly. It is better then sitting all day long and is a good break in the day. Who knows, maybe there is more to Thelma then we think.

You do it to yourself

4th of July

I can honestly say we had a classic 4th of July this year. We began with a 7:00am breakfast with our ward. (By 8:30 we were rushing to get home and out of the sun.) I decided to bring my camera because lately I forget I own one. Some of the highlights of the morning were: the mothers and babies all in patriotic fashion, my cousin Elder Orr, who is an ASL missionary here in Tucson, and really just the new hot patriotic fashions that I never knew exsisted. We also had a celebrity sighting. See below.

All in all, we just ate and mingled. It was actually pretty fun.

Celebrity. (Kara spotted him first) You may have seen him on Napoleon Dynamite...it is REX KWON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the flesh, although we didn't see him perform any moves.

That evening we went over to some friends', Chase and Caitlin's for a bbq/pool party. Good food and good times. There was even homemade ice cream.

We ended the evening with a caught frog. Little did I know, Greg had also caught a baby frog and brought it home with him. I didn't believe him later that night when he was in the kitchen saying he was playing with the frog. But sure enough, after I bet him that he was lying, he came out with a little frog in a container. He had to let it go. (I didn't even do a post about the newest fish he brough home. He brought it as a gift to me because my favorite fish Bloria died. The new fish was pregnant and had TWELVE babies yesterday, so now we have twelve Bloria's.)

PetSmart

Greg has been taken away by PetSmart for the summer. He will be interning with their corporate office in Phoenix until August. I think he is helping with something that I will just quote, because I don't actually know what it means. "Process flows for a new delivery model". Whatever that means, something techie. Anyway he seems to be enjoying it. He began his first week at a PetSmart store in Tucson working as a store intern. This is something that all corporate employees are required to do to get the "store experience." He stocked shelves, bagged crickets, and scooped dead fish. He also came home with 10 "reject" fish. One normal size Black Moor goldfish (he was in the sick tank because he was small and the other fish picked on him), and 9 baby Mollys and Platys (small tropical fish, which were free because they were all babies). I think he is trying to fill the void left by the bird tragedy. This past week was his first week at corporate in Phoenix and he came home with a 6 gallon aquarium. So now we are official fish owners. I didn't think it would happen like this, that we would get married and then own pets, but I don't think you can consider wildlife taking over our patio and Greg's "perks" at work, a real investment in pets. We decided to name the baby fish after some of my sister Molly's Chinese students. I read her blog and loved the names. We have Goober (he is the big goldfish, not one of her students, he just looks like a Goober), Bloria (my favorite), Shetty, Set'n, Toyota, Silly Cow, Evander (also not one of the students, but he has two black eyes, so Greg went off of that, Holyfield.) Last, but not least we have the triplets. Three little white fish that look the same. We figured it was pointless to name them individually because we can't tell them apart, so they are simply "The Triplets". Thanks Molky for the inspiration.

Anyway, good times at the Taylor home. If you feel that I scrimp for material, you are right. What can I do? If I posted my feelings on things, my sanity may be questioned. But all in all life it good. Hot, it is currently 102 degrees, but life is good. Especially on the weekends when Greg gets to come home.

Wedding Album

I created a wedding album for my mom and thought I would post a version of it here for those of you who are interested. Just click on the link and use the mouse to flip the pages. http://www.mypublisher.com/bookshelf/bookviewer.py?d=cppl%60je%3E32981%3A7-tq%3E2

Look-a-like

I was trying to decide who of my sisters looked the most like my mom. This was the only way I could think to really narrow it down.

Dream

Last night I had a dream that I had to clean the bathroom floor of a rest stop with a toothbrush. What does that mean?

Greg wants to feel a part of things

I just wanted to point out the comments to the left of my blog. Greg wanted to add a touch of himself so he set up his own "mini-blog" while I was at work. He said it is directed specifically to the husbands of bloggers. I would call it, "suggestions by Greg". I do not endorse anything that he posts. Sorry love, I'm not a Jimmy Eat World fan.

The Joy of Garage Sales

On Saturday morning, my mom, sister, niece and I went out to do a little garage sale shopping. You never know what kind of things will pop up here in Spokane, so we headed out excited. I picked up a few things I didn't need, "but will use eventually" and was happy with my purchases. One of the things I bought was a used blond wig, obviously an essential. Natalie of course thought it was gross for me to buy a used wig, but whatever, I never claimed to be an overly clean person. Well, after last night, Natalie is eating her words. That wig became the center of activity before we went to bed. I will display the excitement.


Natalie - super hot 50's housewife)



Hitman Natalie


Natalie meets Fiddler on the Roof. Great job Tzeitel.

Glam jam Natalie

Natalie and her Sandra Dee love child

Then I had a round. Mine isn't nearly as dramatic as Natalie's emotional shoot.

Twiggy on meth
Emily using the feather boa. (Also a must-have from the garage sale shopping of the day.)

Emily with her scary looking "surprised" mother.


Now it's time for the good stuff. I think my mom is a beautiful women. But she should NEVER be a blond. I'd say it added about 45 years to her. But we all lost about 7 pounds from laughing.

This photo redefines "senior picture"

My dad was not impressed. He prefers brunettes.

Good times.

I know what you are thinking, what a fun mother/daughter bonding time. But we didn't feel that was enough, so we scouted some recruits.

Please understand that one of us had to hide behind the couch and put this on his head in the same instant that I had the camera in my hands. This is the work of some skilled professionals.

Last but not least. The other sister.

Monsters

I can't understand where we went wrong. Greg and I felt like we created a postive safe environment for these sweet little birds to grow up. We had a vision of watching them take their first flight and eating from their mothers mouth, but now I'm pretty sure they ate their mother. They have turned into monsters. Because I have been in Spokane all weekend, I haven't actually seen them for myself, but Greg sent me a picture and I swear he is lying. I'm ready for them to leave the nest if they are going to continue looking like they do. Maybe that makes me a bad person, but you can be the judge after you view this picture. I think you'll forgive me. They are seriously scary. Fly away.

Jane Austen

This post is dedicated to Greg. He claims to be a devout Jane Austen hater. He feels that all of her characters are dull and spend too much time in parlors talking. He redeemed himself recently when he agreed to watch (and later admit to liking) the most recent Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice. So here you go darling; my dear Mr. Taylor.

(If you would like to know who your heroine match is, you can click on the link below the picture.)

Take the Quiz here!

You Are...Elizabeth Bennet!

(after reading the description below, I don't know if this is a good thing.)

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed

New life at the Taylor Home

This morning I had a pleasant surprise. I went to check on our little bird and I could see a little movement under her breast. She had some softer lighter fuzz under her and sure enough, her babies had hatched and she was sitting on them. I was so excited...I still am. They are so teeny and delicate. She was startled for a moment and flew away (not by me however, I think she is use to seeing a camera in her face). I did of course grab my camera as soon as she did and I got some quick shots.

Greg is hoping to see the two take their first flight, but I'm hoping they stay around for a while. They really are sweet and I love being so close to them.

Be sure to note the attractive car wire they used in their nest. A little splash of color if you will.

Before
After

A little closer

Taylor/Nordstrom Look-alike Meter

I needed a break at work, so I decided to play around with some photos. This is our photoshop love child creation. Apparently I did a pretty good job at making it a combo of both my and Greg's baby pics.

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Famous??

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Good Omen

For the past month or so Greg and I have noticed a pair of mourning doves hovering around our back porch (well really it is the size of a stair) and they seemed to be specifically interested in the black bag on the end of Greg's bike. A couple of times I found a few twigs on the bag, and it would be pushed in a little from them sitting on it. I would tell Greg that I thought they were going to build a nest. We have even moved the bikes to go for bike rides and still when we put the bikes back, the birds came.

Last night after work I was reading in the bedroom and Greg came and told me that he thought they really did build a nest and that there was an egg. I went to look out the window and here is what I saw looking at me.

We startled the bird a bit and she stood up for a moment, and sure enough, there was an egg.








So this morning I have been watching the doves. One dove sits on the nest and the other one has been bringing her twigs. She has been working on building their little home. What a homemaker!! :) I'm just about at eye level with her when I'm on the computer so we have been staring at one another for a good part of the morning. It is one of those moments when I wonder what she is thinking as she sits there all day. Or is she just sitting there by instinct? Then I ponder instinct, and realize that I really need to work on my own home. I'm actually really enjoying watching them and I'm excited for the baby birds to come. We are hoping it is a good omen that our home is fertile :)


I decided to look up some facts on mourning doves and these descriptions described our birds exactly:

• During nest-building, the female stays at the nest and the male collects sticks. He stands on her back to give her the nest material. She takes it and weaves it into the nest. Maybe that's why the nests are so poorly built!
  
• The Mourning Dove almost invariably lays two eggs. Clutches of three or four are the result of more than one female laying in the nest. A dove may have up to five or six clutches in a single year.
  
• A Mourning Dove pair rarely leaves its eggs unattended. The male usually incubates from midmorning until late afternoon, and the female sits the rest of the day and night.
  
• Nests: Flimsy platform of twigs, pine needles, or grass stems. In trees, tangles of shrubs, or vines up to 50 feet. Rarely on the ground. Sometimes in hanging flower pots or other man-made structures.

Well, I'll keep everyone "posted" as to how the new little family is doing, and I'll work on my amazing National Geographic shots.

Goblins

Sometimes I have ugly days. I'd like to think that everyone has them, where everything seems to be off. Hair is greasy or only one eye has good make-up, break-outs, sudden double chin. Whatever. So I found this picture and it made me grateful that I don't look like this all the time. Also, it makes me laugh. And also, it made me grateful that Greg doesn't normally have a massive underbite. (In case you were wondering, we were in Goblin Valley, so we were being goblins.)

Buttless Babies

I had to steal these pictures and post them. They are from Molly's blog. She is in China and she told me about the "baby fashion" over there. I felt it was my duty to share. Go ahead and guess how this system works. Do you think there is a connection between this and Chinese students performing higher academically then US students?

Laptop surgery

Ok, I'm trying to catch up and this is a classic Greg shot. I walked into the room to find this. Greg and his now, "ex" laptop. He has now formed a new bond with a sony vaio. It was never a secret that I married a nerd.