Give me your hands, if we be friends...

I've always wanted to go to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, but I've never gotten around to it... until now. I LOVE plays (and actually Nate rather enjoys them too... at least he's a really good sport about it). So Monday night, we left the Girlie with Granny and went on a date!

I'll be honest, I don't love to read Shakespeare. I love to read and I love plays and poetry, but Shakespeare kinda wears me out. I like the sonnets, but the as far as the plays go, I've only made it through Hamlet, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet. I appreciate his skill... I mean anyone who can do what he did with language... anyone who can come up with the stories and characters that he did... anyone that can write 37 plays and 100andsomeodd sonnets, definitely deserves some respect.

But while reading his stuff makes me feel like I'm doing the mental Olympics, seeing it played out is SO enjoyable. All of a sudden, everything makes sense and I understand the humor, feel the sadness, and identify with the words...

We saw "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I knew the basic premise-- and I even had the epilogue memorized from watching "Dead Poet's Society" a million times-- so I was really excited!

First we ate at the Pizza Factory and it was YUM. Then we had about a half hour to kill so we wandered around IFA (hey, we were in Cedar, not many options) and I fell in love with a Wrangler bag (that I did not buy) and Nate fell in love with, well, everything and then we moseyed on over to the theater. We drank hot cider and ate fruit tarts and watched the minstrels perform. The theater is outdoors and it was a rainy evening. Nate and I love the rain so we were pretty happy about it (and we were sitting in some of the few covered seats), but after a while it really started coming down (and a couple actors actually slipped on stage) so they moved the show indoors.

Anyways, the show was fantastic. I SO enjoyed it!!! I'm really glad I got to go... and that my date was so HOT... and that my mama watched our baby girl... It just made me itch to see more...

Mama Goat.

My parents have three goats. They're just pets that wander around the pasture and eat weeds. One of the goats is named Buddy and he's super cute. He seems to think that Sonnet is his mama. He follows her everywhere! Sonnet spent hours just roaming around the yard with Buddy at her side. She fed him leaves (and whatever else she could sneak out of the kitchen) and took him for walks on the leash and when she would leave poor little Buddy would stand at the gate and cry. Sonnet tried really hard to figure out a way to fit him in our car so he could come home with us today, but in the end, she decided he would like the Ranch better than Las Vegas. Good call, Mama Goat.

July 24.

We went to Beaver for the 24th of July. They do a big shin-dig with a parade, rodeo, 5K, games and food at the park, and fireworks.

Nate and my mom ran the 5K and then we all went to the parade. Sonnet got tons of candy (that she doesn't even eat--- seriously, too picky for candy?). At the end of the parade, the fire truck comes and sprays water and all the kids run out into the middle of the street and get soaked. Sonnet thought that was great fun. She did the huge bouncy slide at the park and then we went out for ice cream.

My buddy Jenae and her husband Seth and their cute baby Eli came over for dinner (my dad's famous chicken wings- YUM!) and then we all went to watch the fireworks. We had FRONT ROW seats and it was SO fun! Yay Pioneers! :)

Gaga For Google.

If you know me, you know that I think the internet is the 8th wonder of the world. I mean seriously, how did we ever live without it? I am constantly amazed at the fact that I can find the answer to ANYTHING in 20 seconds flat. And for someone who hates making phone calls, the fact that I can do it without talking to anyone is just the icing on the cake. (Seriously, I even order pizza online).

Google is my favorite search engine. It always comes up with the answer I'm looking for. I love when my search history pops up and I can see what it is that I did or wondered about in any given week.

Here are the things I Googled last week:

How to identify the Southern Cross constellation. Turns out it's only visible in the southern hemisphere.

The hours of operation to my favorite Mexican joint (Frank and Finas) because I was craving their enchiladas at 8:30 one night. Turns out they're open till 10. And I loved my food, as always!

How to make my husband stop snoring. I swear, I cannot handle one more night of that man's noise. He's the perfect husband... except for the snoring. I'm desperate enough to make him try one of those mouth guards I saw on TV. After that, he's having surgery. Or we're getting separate bedrooms.

Baby names that start with an "S." I wondered if maybe there were some great ones out there that I haven't already thought of. There were hundreds of suggestions, but I did not fall in love with any of them.

What the heck is iambic pentameter? Someone asked me what a Sonnet was. I said "It's a 14 line poem written in iambic pentameter." Then they asked me what iambic pentameter is. I said "It's a type of metering where you use 5 pairings of consonants (one short, one long) in each sentence for a total of 10 consonants per line." I know the technical definition, but I honestly have no idea what that actually means. I remember learning it in school and trying to write in iambic pentameter and totally failing the assignment. I just don't really get it. Even after I googled examples of it, I still don't get it. But it's my fault that I have no ear for rhythm, not Google's.

The difference between a full hysterectomy and a partial hysterectomy. Not because I'm having one any time soon, just because I was wondering. Did you know that one in three women in the US can expect to have a hysterectomy by age 60?

How to substitute regular milk for buttermilk. I wanted to make my grandma's sheet cake and didn't feel like running to the store for buttermilk. Turns out you can put a TBSP of vinegar in a one-cup dish, fill it to the top with regular milk, let it sit 5 minutes, and voila... buttermilk! And my cake was GOOD!

What the word "doldrum" means. I had that word in my head for some reason. Apparently it means "a period of stagnation or a slump." Maybe it was in my head because that's how I've been feeling... lazy and unproductive. Oh well, I AM growing a human after all.

How many plays Shakespeare wrote. We went to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Cedar City. We were trying to name all the Shakespeare plays we could come up with. We only got to 12. Turns out he wrote 37 of them. Now that's a man who understood iambic pentameter.

And speaking of the internet being the 8th wonder of the world, I realized I didn't know what the other 7 were. Thanks to Google, I now know there that is not one specific list. The original 7 wonders were believed to be listed in like 300 AD, but since then there have been tons of other lists created. There are the 7 natural wonders, 7 ancient wonders, 7 religious wonders, 7 modern wonders... One way of the other, the internet is on my list. And so is chocolate.

The end.

The Name Game. [Girls]

I happen to think that one of the best parts of having a baby is picking the name. It’s such a big responsibility. A name defines a person for the rest of their life.

Nate and I don’t have a hard time agreeing on names, but we are pretty picky. These are our requirements:

1. It has to be unique. I know that popular names become popular because they’re good names, but given the choice, I much prefer uncommon names. Pretty much anything that is in the top 1000 most popular names in any given year is not going to survive my cuts.

2. It can’t have a nickname. Nate’s name is “Nathaniel.” He’s never gone by that though. Some people call him Nathan, but mostly he just goes by Nate. He’s always hated that he has to correct people. So his request- and I now happen to agree- is that whatever we plan to call the baby is what we’ll name them.

3. It can’t be made up. It’s got to be a “real” name or word.

4. It can’t have weird spelling. I prefer to spell names or words the traditional way.

I know it's still early for us to be talking about this, but like I said, it's one of my favorite parts of this whole process. I don’t know if we’re having a boy or a girl this time. If we have a boy, we already have a name picked out. We decided on it when we were pregnant the first time and we still love it. As far as girls names go, well, we’ve got a list...

It always baffles me when I hear people who are about to have a baby say that they need help thinking of baby name ideas simply because I am the complete opposite. I have a huge list of names I like and the hard part for me is narrowing it down. I get ideas from books, movies, and music, from places I’ve visited, from things that we like or that have special meaning to us , and from doing genealogy. But eventually-- like with Sonnet-- I think you just land on one that “feels” right.

I know some people prefer to wait until they see their baby before they decide on a name. I have such a hard time making decisions… I know that if I have just been through labor and delivery and I’m delirious because I’m tired and all hopped up on hormones and painkillers, I am not going to be in any condition to make any big decisions. So we like to have the name picked out ahead of time. We decided on "Sonnet" about two months before she was born.

We are kind of secretive about what we decide on though. Like I said, I’m really into unique names and I would just die if I decided on something really uncommon and then it ended up getting used by someone I know. So unless you're my mom-- or you're going to buy me some awesome customized present-- I probably won't tell you the name ahead of time. :)

But just for fun, I thought I’d share the process I’ve been through so far on narrowing down my huge list of possibilities. These names are no longer in the running so feel free to steal should you find yourself pregnant and looking for inspiration. :)

When I was younger, I had a list of names that I wanted to use for my future kids. I liked old-fashioned names, which at the time were not very common. My favorites were:

-Madeleine (Because it was the name my teacher assigned me in my 8th grade French class and I thought it was beautiful.)
-McKenna (As in Elise McKenna, from Somewhere In Time- one of my favorite movies ever.)
-Emma (As in Emma Smith- a lady I really admire.)
-Hallie (My great-grandma’s name.)
-Samantha (From the American Girl books.)
-Addison (I used to babysit a girl named Addison and she was adorable.)
-Izzie
-Olivia
-Hannah (It's the same forward and backward. What's not to love?)
-Ellie
-Page

But apparently a lot of other people had the same thoughts as me, because those names are all very popular right now. I still think they’re beautiful, but they are no longer on my list.

I’ve always liked the idea of using a boy name for a girl. Some of my favorites are:

-Bo
-Spencer
-Sam
-Landen
-Charlie

But none of those are just really feeling “right” this go around.

I think it’s hard to pick names that go with Spears. I think of Spears as a spear-- you know, like a long wooden pointed stick used to kill stuff. So some names just don’t work with that. For example:

-Haven
-Ever
-Love
-Honor
-True
-Scotland
-Blue
-Rainy
-Briar

I still really love those names, but for me they just feel weird with our last name.

To help us narrow even more when we had Sonnet, we decided that we wanted a name that started with an S. My maiden name is Hoffman, so growing up I was Holly Hoffman. I love the alliteration, so we decided to give our kid the initials “SS.” We considered a few "S" names before we decided on Sonnet, but they all got out voted for one reason or the other:

-Sadie (Our first date was to the Sadie Hawkins dance, so I thought this would be perfect. Nate disagreed.)
-Sydney (At the time we were obsessed with the show "Alias" and the main character was Sydney Bristow. We almost picked it, but then we decided we really didn't want her being called Sid.)
-Sage (I felt sure that this was supposed to be Sonnet’s name, but Nate liked Sonnet so much more. I ended up agreeing with him and I’m glad I did because I have since met several little girls named Sage. I love the name and what it means, but I love that I’ll probably never meet another Sonnet other than mine.)
-Scotty (My dad’s name is Scott, so we thought this would be a cute tribute, but I really don’t like when people in the same family have the same name. It gets confusing.)
-Sienna
-Serena
-Selma
-Scout (From “To Kill a Mockingbird- one of my favorite books. I still think it’s a cute, spunky name, but sometimes I feel like it would be a better name for a dog than a daughter.)
-Scarlett (Nate's brother ended up using this name a few months before we had Sonnet.)
-Story (Similar to Sonnet. I like it because I like to read so much, but Nate thought Sonnet was "prettier.")
-Southern (From the song “Southern Cross.” I don’t really know why, but Nate and I both really, really love that song so we considered it.)
-Soiree (As in the French word for party. I just love the light-hearted feel of it, but I’m sure no one would know how to pronounce it and my poor girl would have to be explaining her name to people her whole life.)
-Summit (If I was a hiker or mountain biker, I think this would be really cute. But I'm not.)
-Sailor (If I was into boats or lived near the ocean, I would really consider this.)
-Sonoma (If I drank wine, or came from California, this might fit, but not so much now.)

I’ve got 5 other “S” names that I’m still considering if this baby happens to be a girl. I’m not totally stuck on using another “S”, but knowing me and my love of matchy-matchy, I probably will.

Other names that I like, but that have been crossed off the list at some point for one reason or another are:

-Oakley
-Mandy (From the song in “White Christmas”- one of my other favorite movies.)
-Piper (Cause I’ve seen every episode of “Charmed” a hundred times.)
-Tallie
-Tenley
-June (This was one of my grandpa’s favorites.)
-Gia
-Janie
-Baylor
-Peyton
-Hattie
-Lola
-Giselle
-Lydia
-Henley (As in Don Henley from the "Eagles." For real.)
-Autumn (Cause it's the best time of the year)
-Hazel (Cause Nate and Sonnet both have hazel eyes.)
-May (Cause our anniversary and Sonnet’s birthday are in May.)
-Raleigh
-Juneau (One of the most gorgeous places on the planet.)
-Chanel (Because I’m obsessed with the designer. Nate says everyone would call her Channel.)
-Felicity (I just love what it means.)

But none of those are really hitting the spot for us either. I’ve got about 10 names still left on the list in addition to my 5 “S” names and I really love some of them. Assuming we’re even having a girl this go around, it'll be fun to continue to narrow the list and eventually decide on a name we adore before our little Valentine shows up!

Twenty Eight.

I had a birthday, shout hooray! Monday was my twenty-eighth. Nate had to work that day, so my friend Rushelle spoiled me by getting a sitter for the kids and taking me out for a pedicure and lunch. We ate Thai food and it was yum! And I tell you what, a foot rub is just about one of the best things on the planet. Don't worry, I'll spare you the pictures of my feet.

I'm really grateful that I had a buddy willing to go the extra mile just to make my day special. I've been in a junky mood lately, mostly just because I don't feel all that hot, and I know I haven't been that good of a friend, so it meant a lot to have her take me out--- and to get all the zillions of facebook messages, texts, voicemails, and cards that I got wishing me a happy day. I have good people in my life.

Nate took me out to lunch a few days before my birthday. We ate ourselves silly on soup, salad, and breadsticks at Olive Garden. Truth be told, we eat out a lot, but it's one of my favorite things to do, and it's even more fun when there's a special reason for it.

On my birthday, Nate made cupcakes and invited me and Sonnet to the station. We hung out with him for like an hour and a half (the longest I've ever been there without him getting a call- yay!) and it was really nice. He gave me a shirt, a hands-free speaker for my phone, one of those huge pregnancy pillow things (I had one with Sonnet and I loved it, but then our dog got a hold of it...) and a little money to blow at my favorite joint- Marshalls. We finally saved up enough to buy a laptop (which I'm currently typing on--- IN MY BED-- love!) and I've commandeered it, so we're definitely considering that a major birthday present too.


Today we continued the festivities by taking Sonnet to see the "Winnie the Pooh" movie. Going to the movies is one of my other very favorite things to do, and even though it was a kiddie movie, we had a really good time. The show was super cute and short enough that Sonnet actually sat still the whole time. (The huge bucket of popcorn sitting on her lap didn't hurt either). I love family dates!

Tonight my parents took us out to dinner. My mama got me a bunch of cute black and white presents (jewelry, clothes, stuff for my house, and the cutest diaper bag ever!) and it was fun to hang out with them. I felt very loved.

You know, I feel pretty good about this year. I feel like I'm the age I should be... and want to be. My whole life I always felt older than I was and I couldn't wait for another birthday. But right now, I feel very content. I was thinking about where I'm at in my life and I decided that I feel like I'm right where I should be. Sure, I've got a lot of things to work on and there's stuff I still want to see and do, but I like my life. I chose all this, worked towards this, and I wouldn't trade with anyone.

Sometimes I feel bad because I didn't end up being a nurse or getting a master's degree like I thought I would. I think of all the things I could have done and didn't. But I've gotten to the point where I don't regret anything from the past anymore. Because one way or the other, I wouldn't want to be anywhere other than where I am. I mean sure, it would be cool to say I have a master's degree, but I always knew that once I had kids, I would be a full-time stay at home mom anyway, so I'm content with my "job." I got a bachelor's degree from BYU, I lived in Ecuador for 4 months, I spent a summer working as a white water river guide, I worked in marketing and taught kindergarten. I accomplished a lot. And I ended up where I want to be...

I have one adorable kid who came at the right time. I'm ready for another baby and thankfully there is one on the way. I love our little house. I desperately wish it had another bedroom, but we own it and we are not upside down on it. We have a dog, which for someone like me is a must in the "american dream" ideal, and we love him to pieces. My husband has a job he loves that is [relatively] secure and we make enough to pay our bills (and go to Olive Garden- haha). And I know that I absolutely made the best choice when it came to marrying Nate. I was thinking of those years we dated before his mission and how I just wanted to be here--- I wanted to be married to him and to have a house and a dog and a kid and just be... settled, and together. And now here we are. I just knew early on that he fit the bill for me and every year I become more convinced that he is something special.

Who knows what the next year will hold. But for now, I am so grateful for what I have and for where I'm at... for the friends I have... for my parents... and my husband and daughter... and for the fact that our family is growing (10 weeks along today!).
It's great to be 28!

My One Tip.

Being a parent is hard. You're constantly worried that you're not good enough and that you're not doing things "right." One of the hardest things about it is that it's relentless on-the-job training. You just have to learn as you go. Every child and every situation is different. Sometimes it's just hard to know what to do.

I know one of the things that most people struggle with is discipline, or getting your kids to listen to you and do what you say.

Now, of course, my kid isn't perfect and most of the time I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I know I've made some mistakes as far as discipline is concerned and I know I'll struggle again in the future. So I am in no way trying to toot my own horn.

But for the most part, Sonnet is a very good kid. She's energetic and a bit of a free spirit, but when she's with me, and when it really matters, she listens. She doesn't throw tantrums. She's never hit anyone. She doesn't scream or cry. She doesn't even tell me no. Mostly because I just won't stand for it and she knows that. I'm the disciplinarian in the household. I don't do whining and I don't do bratty-ness. I just don't. The second she started when she was little, I told her to "knock it off" (seriously, I use that phrase a lot) and I just always tried to be very vigilant about stopping that behavior before it started. It's much easier to avoid the problem in the first place than it is to change behavior later on!

A lot of times I would just redirect her into something else--- another activity or behavior that was appropriate. When she was really small I could physically pick her up and move her without much issue. If she threw a fit about leaving the park, it was easy to pick her up and carry her to the car, because hello, she can't walk- what's she gonna do? But as kids get older, things get more tricky. There has to be a series of actions and consequences.

There's one technique that we use that has been really helpful for us. I like the Love and Logic parenting style. I read the book when I was pregnant with Sonnet and though I don't remember or utilize everything they promote (they're big into time-outs which I've never done), I really like the basic premise.

The idea is that children (especially when they become toddlers, and again when they become adolescents) just want to feel like they are in control of their own lives. They want to be independent so they test the boundaries to see how far they can go. It is our job as parents to set the boundaries and enforce them, while allowing our children to move freely within those boundaries.

So, one of the things that the Love and Logic people promote is giving your kid acceptable choices whenever possible and letting them choose for themselves. When they're really small, the choices they make are very simple: "Do you want your milk in the blue cup or the green cup?" They get to choose the color of their cup. They feel like they have some control over their life. Really, it doesn't matter to you what color cup they have, but they feel like they scored a victory. Eventually, you use that technique on bigger things: "Would you like to go to the park or go on a bike ride?" "Would you like to play with Emily or Jake?"

The point is to get the parent in the habit of presenting choices and the child in the habit of answering. Set your parental boundaries early, and then whenever possible, even when it seems silly, and even when they're very small, present your child with two or three acceptable choices and allow them to move freely within those boundaries.

Then, you can use that technique when it comes to telling your kids what to do. Instead of saying "Stop throwing your toys!" You can say "Would you like to play nicely with your toy or would you like me to take it away from you?" If they throw it again, calmly walk over and take it away. Instead of saying "Don't climb on the table!" You say "Would you like to sit nicely in your chair and eat lunch with your friends or would you like me to take you home?" If it comes down to it, you better be prepared to calmly stand up, say goodbye to your lunch buddies, and drive home.

The most important thing to remember is that both choices you give your child must be acceptable to you. You have to be willing to follow through! You can't say "Do you want to play nicely with the dog or do you want me to give the dog away?" Obviously, you're not really going to give the dog away. Again: you have to follow through. Be consistent!!! If your kid knows there are no consequences, then they know there is no reason to listen to you. You lose your credibility every time you don't follow through with a threat.

There have been a couple times that I have thrown a perfectly good ice cream cone in the trash because Sonnet choose to paint on the window with it rather than just eat it. I have picked her up and left a friend's house early because she wasn't listening. I am the parent and she is the child and we're all very clear about that around here. I have no problem doing what I said I would do if she decides to test me. But the good part is, she usually doesn't.

I also find it helpful to give your kids lots of information. If they know what to expect or why you're requesting something, they tend to freak out less. Every night before Sonnet goes to bed, we talk about what our plans are for the next day. She gives me her input and I tell her what the plan is. When we get ready to go somewhere, I explain where we are going and who we are going to see. I tell her how long we're going to stay and what we're going to do after we leave. Then, when it comes time to leave, she doesn't wig out because she was warned ahead of time.

I started doing this when she was a baby. I would pick her up and say "We're going to change your diaper right now because you're wet and it's no fun to sit in a wet diaper." It just became habit to me to share my plans and reasoning with her.

When I give her choices, I usually start with a fact or an explanation and then present the choices. If she freaks out about buying a candy bar in the check out aisle at the grocery store I'll say "We have to eat dinner before we eat candy. So, you can put it back nicely and I will let you have ice cream after dinner tonight or you can cry and I will take it away from you and you will not get any ice cream tonight." Or to make bedtime a little smoother I'll explain "I like to read you stories before bed. If you go get your jammies on now, we can read 5 stories. If not, we will only have time for one story and then it will be lights out. Do you want 5 stories or 1 story?"

A lot of times, we tell kids not to do something because what they're doing is unsafe. But rather than just yell "Stop climbing on the couch." We could say "I don't want you to fall off the couch and hurt yourself, so you need to stop. Instead, you can either play with your toys or watch a movie." If it makes sense to them why you're telling them to stop, then they'll probably stop. (Of course, for the really stubborn ones, sometimes it takes falling off the couch and bonking their head before the message really sinks in- haha. :)

The point is that no one wants to be bossed around all the time. It's probably not very fun for kids to just be told what to do and to feel like they don't have any control over their own actions. And it's not fair for us to expect them to do something without explaining why. And we can't expect them to operate within the boundaries we have set if they're not clear on what those boundaries are. And of course, the reward is that when they consistently make good choices within those boundaries, the boundaries can be increased and they gain more freedom and more control and life is just better all around. :)

See, it's logical. Be clear and follow through. That's it.

Of course, I know this is not a fool-proof system and I know it doesn't work for everything. And like most parents, I constantly worry that I stink at my job. But this little technique has seriously saved me multiple times. It's so logical. I really feel like it's easy to use once you get in the habit. Kids get a clear picture of what their options are and you know what you have to do if they don't make the "right" decision. I know my examples were dumb, but hopefully you get the idea. I really do feel like this technique is useful and good. It might feel a little weird at first, but just keep practicing. The other day someone mentioned to me that I'm always 'talking to Sonnet in questions' and this is why. It works for us, so I thought I'd share my one good tip. Add it to your arsenal, er, repertoire. :)

And really, please remember that YOU are the parent and YOU are in charge. Do not let your two year old run your household. That's no fun for anyone.

Nine Weeks.

Nine weeks. Still no barfing. I almost lost it in Walmart yesterday, but that was my own fault. My friend talked me into going to Cafe Rio and I ate two tacos when I knew I should have stopped at one. But, I managed to keep it in and there was no cleanup needed on aisle 4.

I'm still pretty exhausted, but I don't think it's as bad as before. Probably because I haven't tried to do much. I did manage to clean the downstairs and put away the laundry today. As long as no one comes near my bathroom, it's all good.

My skin is freaking out. I swear I'm back in 7th grade. The acne is out of control. I think one should only have to deal with wrinkles or zits. It's cruel and unusual punishment to have BOTH.

I had some spotting last week. It was hardly anything and everything is fine, but I'm glad it stopped. It amazes me how the worrying about your child starts the second you find out your pregnant and never, ever stops.

I get those weekly emails that tell you how your baby is developing and what to expect. They always compare the size of the baby to an item of food. I know that seriously bothers some people, but I find it helpful. This week, I am playing host to a grape. Amazing, isn't it?

Art.

I just LOVE little kid's art. It's so simple and creative. Sonnet LOVES to draw. Recently we emptied the change out of her piggy bank because she wanted to buy a new toy at the store. She had like 5 bucks to spend and she picked out a new sketch pad and a package of markers. I tell you, we have got some serious mileage out of that little purchase. Here's just a few of her little pictures from this week. I think they're all adorable and I want them recorded for history's sake.

This is her on a swing.

She traced her hand. Haha.

Then she traced Dad's hand.

This rainbow kept her occupied in the car all the way from St. George to Beaver.

This is Sonnet and Daddy. There's a yellow sun and blue sky at the top. The red blob is our house and the black and blue thingie is my parents place in Beaver. She was showing how we like to visit both places. The thing sticking out of her head is her "bangs pulled up in a bow." Haha. I love her interpretation.

This is Mommy ready to go to church. She made me a polka dot dress and red shoes because those are my favorite. Looks like I need to go on a diet.

This is some of her handwriting. She's been able to write her letters for a long time, but lately her writing has gotten smaller and neater. She knows how to spell these words by herself. She also knows how to spell stop, toy, and Blaze, but she said she ran out of room. The thing on the side is "a vine with flowers on it and dirt on the bottom." Haha. Soooo cute!

The Good Life.

Every year, Nate and his 4 brothers go on a 4-day "Spears Boys Camp Out." They all get really excited about it and spend months calling each other to make plans. It's pretty cute. Uh, manly. And they always have a great time! This year, they decided to stay on Beaver mountain, so Nate dropped Sonnet and I off at my parent's house for the weekend.

My parents bought a goat. Is he not the goofiest, cutest thing you've ever seen?! I mean, those white freckled ears and black racing stripe?! You couldn't get coloring like that from an artist. Sonnet gets a big kick out of him. She's a total ranch girl... she loves riding on the Ranger and picking strawberries and feeding the horses. And of course, we had to get ice cream from the Cache Valley Cheese Factory. Yum.

I've decided to just embrace my laziness and take it easy in Beaver. I've finished two books and I'm starting a third. We're enjoying the afternoon thunderstorms and being out of the Vegas heat. After I whined on the blog about being so tired, I had several nice comments and emails from supportive friends telling me to take it easy. So I am. Someone suggested I take B12. It comes in pills, lozenges, or injections. I've got an awesome friend willing to hook me up with an injection should I need it, but I'm a wuss about needles, so I decided to start with the lozenges. I also started drinking Ensure (I feel like my grandpa!) and I actually kind of think it's helping. Apparently not eating to avoid barfing is not such a great idea. My best buddy brought me a gallon of lemonade and yet another great friend offered to entertain Sonnet while I take a nap. I tell you, there are such nice people in this world. The end.

Milking It.

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes about Baby #2. It's nice to have friends to share in the excitement. And of course, I like that the news is out in the open. No one keeps secrets well, especially me.

I'm now 8 weeks. Moving right along, I know. Now, is it too early to whine?

When I laid bare all my thoughts last week in the big announcement, I was afraid that I was jinxing myself on the whole morning sickness thing. Look at me, I don't throw up. La-tee-da. And that's still true. So far, no barfing. Knock on wood. I feel like barfing after I eat, but it's not awful. As long as I only eat certain things and in very small amounts, I'm fine. Compared to some women I know who yak several times a day for months on end, I might as well be on vacation in Fiji.

My big problem is the fact that I seem to have absolutely no energy left in my body. I swear, I get winded just walking to the bathroom, which unfortunately I have to do ALL THE TIME. I'm not a real high-energy person anyways, but over the last week, my fatigue has been downright debilitating. I've pretty much spent every moment that I can sitting on my bum. Sonnet brings her toys and books into my room and we play and watch movies on my bed. I get up to make her food... but beyond that, I'm probably qualifying for World's Most Boring Mom Award.

I had a small meltdown yesterday. Nate was actually home and it was The Fourth of July. I really wanted to get dressed and go do something fun with my family, but by the time I washed my hair in the shower and dried myself off, I was completely exhausted. I sat on the floor in my towel and cried. Nate put me back to bed and took Sonnet out for a daddy/daughter date. I know, he's fantastic and I'm dramatic. I usually try really hard not to fall apart, and I hate women who milk their pregnancies, but I just feel so useless. I'm just so tired.

After they left, I slept for a couple hours and woke up feeling better. I'd like to say that today I woke up at a reasonable hour and exercised and took a shower and did some super social activities with Sonnet. But let's be honest: we slept until 9:30am and the only thing I've done is read a couple chapters of my book and eat some watermelon. I still feel bad for not having the energy to do anything, but I've decided not to beat myself up about it. Sonnet gets plenty of attention and she doesn't need to be stimulated every second. There's nothing wrong with spending a few days at home. She's fed and clean and she seems to be perfectly happy. And while I know I'm being really whiny, well, I've decided that I've earned it. Growing another human being is hard work, and if right now my body needs all the energy I've got to do it, then I'm not going to argue. Being sleepy is better than being sick. So I'll take it. And maybe I'll take another nap too...