Christmas Time

We had a really nice Christmas this year. It was our first Christmas not being with either of our families, so it felt a little strange to just have the 3 of us. The best present this year was the 3-way tent we got Ruth. We had such a blast playing in it with her on Christmas day. It is a surprising ab work out to crawl through that tunnel!


The food was also great! Christmas Eve we had steak and twice baked potatoes and Christmas night we had lamb and roasted carrots and red potatoes, YUM! This was my first time making lamb, and using my new meat thermometer. Sounds dumb, but I pulled the lamb out after 30 minutes because I didn't know how to read the thermometer and I thought it was over-done. After cutting into it and finding it to be completely raw inside we stuck it back in. Ha! But attempt #2 turned out great and we snacked on it all night long. Oh, and roasted carrots are ridiculously delicious...they're practically candy.

Ruth has also become a world-class present un-wrapper. She helped us open our presents: Brad got a Mossburg shotgun and a I got a recliner! One of my favorite parts of this holiday season was reading everyone's family letters that were sent to us. I also enjoyed the music. One of my new favorite Christmas albums is by Aimee Mann.

Pregnancy

I was reading up about being 18 weeks pregnant (nearly half way there!) and found some funny stuff!


First: my uterus is the size of a small melon!


Second: the newbie is the size of a deli pickle.


I've always thought the comparisons made to food were strange...but I guess food is something pregnant women can relate to!

Happy Christmas Eve-Eve!

I really just wanted an excuse to post these pictures of Ruth. She has, for the most part, gotten over her super clingy phase. In the end it really only lasted 3 or 4 weeks! She's once again playing by herself for part of the day and even wanders off down the hall by herself, it's a miracle! She doesn't even cry when Brad leaves for work...usually. And, best of all, she was babysat by friends who live at our apartment complex...(drum roll please) and she did NOT cry the whole time. She didn't even cry right after I left! She played with Finn (their little 1 year old) and had fun!!!! This is a huge improvement over the last time we tried to go on a date, where she DID cry the whole time. So YAY!


We've been letting her open a few of her Christmas presents early...big mistake...now she sits in front of the tree trying to open all the presents. She also loves to pull the shiny blue and silver ornaments off the tree...and put them in her mouth.


She has learned to climb onto the coffee table, her toy car and the couch, throw a ball, and the names of several objects including: clock, book, Christmas tree, foot, nose, Mama and Daddy. She also likes to wander around with her new mittens on.


Anyways here is what she has been up to recently:



If you listen closely you'll hear Barbara Streisand's "Jingle Bells" playing in the background.

Things I've Learned This Year

1. Don't buy a used car before taking it to a mechanic.
2. I hate paying for TV, especially when all the shows I want to see are online now.
3. Don't sign a contract for something like television unless you know how much it will cost to cancel your subscription.
4. Buying presents for your husband is REALLY fun.
5. Buying presents for your child is even better.
6. Don't plug your cell phone in to recharge unless it's already beeping at you, otherwise you end up with an 18 minute battery life.
7. Don't let your child play with your cell phone, they delete contacts.
8. Meet your neighbors, they're usually nice.
9. Don't go running with a stroller unless it is a jogging stroller, your child could end up with a huge bump/scab/tons of scrapes and you feel horribly guilty for weeks.
10. All little girls should have pretty pink toe nails; all big girls should have sexy red toe nails.
11. Keeping record of all incoming and outgoing money isn't hard and is strangely satisfying.
12. Moving is stressful.
13. Losing baby-weight takes effort. Ha!
14. Paying medical bills is not fun. REMINDER: have next large medical expense within the same year so insurance deductible works for us and not against us!
15. Recliners are amazing.
16. Having a loving husband and curious/adorable daughter is the most rewarding thing in my life.
17. Having sister-in-laws is WONDERFUL.
18. Children make a mess: toys, clothing, diapers, food, etc. etc.
19. The temple is awesome. It is relaxing and reassuring and comforting. It's like visiting a good friend who always makes you feel warm and fuzzy.
20. I truly love my Bradford. I realized today that I've been telling him "I love you" for 4 years now. I'm happy to say that it's still true.

Actual Conversation

Brad: It feels warmer today
Me: Yeah, it does. I bet it's like...23 degrees.
Brad: I guess 20.
It was actually 13 degrees, a whopping 3 degrees warmer than yesterday! They weren't joking when they said it gets cold here. (Last night it was -4 degrees.) I don't like the cold.