Hold on!

Yesterday, as many of you heard, California had an earthquake. It tipped the scale at 5.4 with a couple of aftershocks weighing in at 3.8. It made for a very eventful morning!

At close to noon, Lex and I were sitting in the middle of the living room floor, playing our own little version of chess; wherein, we attempt to anticipate the others' moves and thwart their plan (most of the time as you can probably guess, I am on the losing end of this game). I noticed that the building was shaking a bit - nothing really new, considering that we live next to a busy freeway with lots of big trucks. When I noticed that the pictures were bouncing on the walls, and candles on the counters were not so subtly getting closer and closer to the edge, I knew that no truck was causing this.

Having only been in one other earthquake, I am not an expert on protocol; so, I scooped Lex up and stood in the middle of the kitchen area - close to the doorway. Why not in the doorway, you may be asking. Well, as silly as it sounds the only thought I was having at the time was, "Crap! I forgot to put my bra on this morning!" (pardon the candor). Talk about being caught off guard! There was no way I was opening my door, all I could do was pray it didn't get worse and force us to evacuate! Truth be told, the rescue teams would have to come to me, because I was going down with the ship.

As I was facing this dilemma, I learned later from David that the quake caught him studying in the library. He put all those years of elementary school drills (do they have quake drill in WA? hmm) to go use and dove for cover under his desk. Take a moment if you will to ponder on this picture with me... the middle of a library, all 6'5 David under his desk, and everyone else acting like nothing happened (inwardly snickering at the goofy guy hiding under the desk). I'll admit it, the picture made me laugh... just a little though... okay, so it still is a little funny.

Thankfully, I did not have to leave my apartment, Lex didn't have a clue what was going on, and David's desk protected him sufficiently. After taking a little time to make sure David was safe, Lex and I once again sat in the middle of the floor to evaluate ourselves on our response time. We were pretty proud of ourselves for realizing that something 'not normal' was happening, and were happy with the timely manner in which we reacted.

We did put together an action and evacuation plan for the next quake, there are only 2 things we felt needed improvement.

For next natural disaster:

1 - be fully clothed, where as not to hamper evacuation.

2 - somehow get video footage of library where David is studying

Sleepy Head

Now that Lex has realized her legs can be used for more than just dead weight, I have a really hard time getting her down for naps. Gone are the days when I could put her down, have her cry for a few minutes, and come back to find her asleep. Now when I go back to check, she is standing against the railing watching and waiting for mom's moment of weakness.

Now that she is mobile, the crib is her prison and I am her warden. I attempted to outfit her cell with a 'double bumper' - closely akin to solitary isolation, I'm sure - however, somehow the second bumper gave her a better grip and she was out of her blanket and standing in record time. I have tried to wedge her between pillows - gasp, pillows in the crib with her?! I know... I'm sure I'll get the call from DCFS any day - sadly, the pillows merely provided a better cushion for her to stand on while screaming about her false imprisonment.

In an attempt to solve this nap time crisis, I have tried to think of what a real warden would do if the inmates were so out of control. I made the mistake of running my first couple of ideas past David to get his thoughts... I still don't see what he was so freaked out about, I did promise him I would make a little anesthesia go a long way.

In the end, I have taken the real hard core route... rocking her till she is drowsy and standing over her holding her hand till she falls asleep. Make no mistake I mean business around here... like any well run facility, It's my way or the highway!

Shout Out

As we were getting ready for church, David asked a very thought provoking question yesterday. We were talking about how difficult the past year has been, how stressful it is to realize there is only one more week till boards, and how the stress of school really will not stop until we know for sure that he has been accepted to an ortho program. Then David asked (quite seriously, mind you) if Lexi would ever understand how difficult this has all been.

Honestly, I don't think she will understand... I don't know that she will ever fully appreciate how much effort went into buying her uniforms for the expensive all girls school that she will be attending till she's 30. I don't think she will realize that it is expensive to have gentleman callers dealt with. And, the medical bills alone to make sure that she never leaves her parents; well, those add up too.

Seriously though this is a special shout out to husbands and fathers. I don't know what my own parents had to go through, and all the sacrifices they made and continue to make on behalf of their family; but, I can honestly say that I have never wanted for anything (except that pony... waiting, still waiting). I especially want to thank David, my Daddy, and David's Dad - three of the hardest working, most selfless men I know. I have no idea the pressure that you feel to bring home the bacon. But, I appreciate each and every one of you. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. I don't publish it enough, but I love you and am truly grateful for such good men and fine examples in my life.

And, though I moan about how rough it is sitting at home all day... just know, I wouldn't trade places with you for a million bucks! I know a good thing when I got it... I'm not that crazy!

This is who...

I had ice cream with last week.

And by with, of course, I mean that he was sitting at one table with his daughters and I was at another table visiting teaching. It was the most uplifting vt experience that I have ever had!

When I got home I asked David if he knew who Dylan McDermott was. He responded in the affirmative, but didn't seem at all impressed that I had seen him. He only had one question, "he's in the ward, isn't he?"

So, I am officially going to start a Mormon myth... Did I tell you the guy from the Practice is in MY ward?!?! It's really hard to name drop when I'm married to someone who doesn't know names!

I'm so glad you're mine

Hannibal Lexi

My strange child absolutely refuses to use a pacifier... or even suck her thumb. The above picture is a demonstration of what she finds calming. Yup, that's right she sucks on her arm... but, only when mine is not available.

For about the last month and a half, Lex has decided that her best source of comfort is giving me hickeys. We are trying to find a suitable outlet for this impulse, but I have to be honest there are times I am more than willing to be the human pacifier just so she will be quiet!

Although, It is fairly embarrassing wearing short sleeved shirts. With all the bruises, I look like a battered wife. I don't know who is more embarrassed: David, because people think I have an abusive husband; or me, because I have let someone under 30 inches tall get the upper hand.

I am coming to grips with the fact that one day my daughter will be 'that kid' standing in the shadows of the school yard that everyone whispers about as they pass... because she thinks she's a vampire.

When I said...

As a young girl, I often daydreamed of getting married and what it would be like to have a husband and children. Like most, I romanticized the future and was quite impatient to be swept off my feet. From the moment that I met David, I knew that there was something different about him. Unlike all of my previous Prince Charming candidates... he was tall; had a personality; and for some odd reason enjoyed being with me.
Everything fell into place, and I realized the day I had been waiting all my life for was just around the corner. When I said "I Do" I was more than certain that I was agreeing to everlasting happiness, eternal contentment, and never ending marital bliss.

Looking back, I can't be sure where I made the mistake. When I said I Do I didn't fully grasp what it meant...

I Do the cooking
I Do the dishes
I Do the vacuuming
I Do the diaper changes
I Do the laundry
I Do the grocery shopping
I Do the cleaning

I am not sure where the notion of happily ever after came to exist in our culture. Ah, to be young and foolish again. With the blinders off, the world is a harsh and scary place...

So you think you can stand

I had to catch up on the dances from last night, so Lex took advantage of the rare treat to watch with me... I have a new goal of not having the TV on while she is up, but I made an except this morning. I think she may have a crush on Will, because she was more than drawn to him. For those of you who don't know who Will is, shame on you!

Lex is getting more adventurous as she discovers all that balance has to offer. She is really good at balancing while holding on to something... not so good at balancing on her own.
I am completely okay with her not being steady, I am not ready for a literal 'run for my money'!

Let's Explore!

Again, it has been over a week since my last update... I am shocked how the days go and Lex grows!

Since early January, I have been looking forward to July when my brother and sil would come to visit... sadly, the time has come and gone. David and Kristen drove down last Friday and headed to San Diego yesterday for Kristen's brother's wedding. It was a blast having a chance to explore Cali with them. They were good sports about our early curfew... for some the day may start around 7PM, but for us 7PM translates to house arrest. We spent time in Santa Monica, Hollywood, and Malibu... and even made the expensive drive down Rodeo. To top the visit off we spent the day at Zuma beach and all came home somewhere between 'crispy' and 'fried'. Let's talk about some of the things not fun to do with a sun burn: shower, sleep, sit on the couch, move, get dressed, hold a wiggling child, etc, etc. And where does that leave me? Um, pretty much standing in front of the TV eating... I'm still recovering...

It was great to have them here, but sad to see them go...

It's not easy being cheesy

Today marks 8 months since Lex was born! I don't know where the time has gone. I try not to daydream about how little and cute she used to be. Because I've learned, that much like a dog sense fear, my daughter can sense when I am not paying complete attention, and before I know it the entire house is turned upside down with her sitting serenely in the middle of the rubble trying to look innocent.
She has been a great blessing to our family. Never in my life have I felt like I truly was meant to be doing what I was doing... until now. She is the most demanding, rewarding, and entertaining full time job I have ever had!

Family Photos

Here are a couple of pictures taken at Nana's funeral... all of her grandkids were there which was a nice tribute to her. I did feel a little out of place as the only spouse, but I had Lex as my golden ticket, and she enjoyed ALL the attention.

Left to right: Tom, David, Me, Kim, Merrilee, Fred (granddad), Lex, and Mari (nana)

Crash Course

When David came to Utah for Nana's funeral, I tried to persuade him to stay through the weekend. However, UCLA had scheduled a CPR training for his class that he felt he should not miss. He did not miss it - in fact, he didn't miss it to the tune of $400 flight dollars Delta offered him to be bumped to a later flight. As is plainly obvious, I am still trying to come to grips with the fact he actually got on the plane.
Any hoo, during the training, he got a refresher course on infant CPR and shared it with me over the weekend. I have to say it was one of the most beneficial CPR trainings I have ever had... mostly because our training doll was SO lifelike.
I feel much better able to live with my - everything goes in the mouth - child. She has an uncanny ability to tell when something is actually edible, and tosses those things aside but puts everything else in...She didn't quite know what to make of, "be sure to get a tight seal around all of the orifices"...

Pillow Talk

David will probably kill me when he sees that I posted these pictures... what can I say, I like to live on the edge. We were lucky to snap these pictures in between Lexi's moments of picking David's nose and trying to pinch the freckles on his arms off... what a helpful helpful child.

Drama Queen or Future Hero?

Now that Lex can move around the house, I find that by the end of the day I am exhausted... why is it that the more exercise she gets, the more I have to get too? In the past when she was bored she really didn't have many options for broadening her horizons. Now however, I know exactly when she is bored because she is suddenly gone.

Currently, she is looking for a way under the couch (sadly, her head always gets in the way... that's what happens when your head is 3 times as big as the rest of your body, I guess), and she also watches very closely each time either David or I open the front door. I can almost see the wheels turning in her brain as she plots her escape.

Fortunately, she is anything BUT quiet when she is trying to get around. She reminds us of the war movies after a big explosion when the hero must use their arms to pull themselves as their legs drag behind... i can almost hear the "I'm going to make it! ahhhhh... I will make it!!" whenever she is on the move. It is all very dramatic! I'm not sure what kind of hero she would make since she sucks on everything in her path, or pushes it out of the way - sorry injured survivors, you're on your own!

She loves to be able to move rather than sit and wait for me to get the hint that she is bored. She is starting to get her knees under her and shuffle forward. Thankfully, she hasn't completely mastered the every-other-hand forward motion concept... She is already a very independent kid. I have learned that I must place things in front of her so that she can grab them herself - she does not take handouts. And, her screaming and thrashing is VERY subtle when I am holding her and she wants to be down...

Today...

Five things i would change:
1. Living far away from both David's and my families.
2. Having one of CA's busiest freeways literally right next door.
3. Smelly solid food diapers - why does it always have to be green?!
4. CA's population limit. I'm closing the boarders, but I hear North Dakota is very nice this time of year...
5. Living on the 3rd floor - coin opperated laundry on the 1st floor. This sentence as a whole has multiple issues!

Ten things i would not change for the world:
1. DDF DDS
2. My little Lexicon
3. Amazing parents -WA and UT are too far away!
4. The blessing of knowing there is a purpose and plan
5. The ability to go out and enjoy nature
6. Living in a free country
7. Chocolate - we all knew it would make the list...
8. Supportive and fun extended family - again, everyone is too far!
9. Sunshine
10. Having a place to call home

Save the Date

It is official! Late last night after becoming exceedingly sick of listening to me complain about having to constantly change the countdown till the boards, David set - and scheduled! - his test date.
August 5
That's right... for those who have been watching the count down and wondering why the numbers seem to be going up rather than down, have no fear, this is now official.
We have paid our money, reserved our seat, and now the only thing standing in our way is 8 glorious hours of testing. Needless to say, there will be much rejoicing August 5th starting at around 5PM!

he he he...

Okay, so anyone who knows me, knows that I don't really post about anything other than family - more specifically, the littlest member of our family. However, while in Utah my little bro and sil showed me these clips and I couldn't stop laughing...

Catch Up!

The past couple of weeks have been pretty eventful for us. As a quick update: David is still studying for boards. It has reached the point where neither one of us can imagine a world in which the very word 'boards' does not quicken the pulse and strike fear in our hearts. He has made it through all the material covered in the exam almost ONE full time! And after more than 300 study hours that tells you a bit of what he is up against. He has pushed back the exam goal date a few weeks, so that he can have a little more prep time. Now we are looking at the end of July.

He has already started the testing nightmares, and lets me know each morning what horrendously unacceptable score he dreamed of receiving - last night it was 87! I've let him know, in no uncertain terms, that if he comes home with anything less that 99.9 he may as well get used to the air mattress... I was going to round it to an even 100 but I didn't want to seem unreasonable! On the up side he is now finished with his school years of class lectures, and now spends his days as a dentist in the clinic - complete with patients and all!

Lex and I spent the last 2 weeks in Utah - I usually tell David I go for his own good, but in reality, I go for my own sanity. It was so nice to be somewhere where I didn't have to listen to cars on the freeway all day. While there Alexis perfected her push and pull method of getting around, and got to spend quality time with Harley, and choked down some of Grandma's peaches (odd child still does not like food other than rice cereal. If I had not been in the room when she was born, I may question if she is really mine).

We had a blast hanging out at home, and also going on field trips to Salt Lake and the mountains. We had the chance to have good family time with my little brother and his amazing wife - who taught me the joys of the Wii. David -and his family- even flew in for a whirlwind day to participate in his Grandma's funeral.

Lexi was great on the plane home and smiled at anyone willing to make eye contact. In fact the little Asian man sitting next to us wanted to hold her and had the flight attendant take pictures... I felt like an agent rather than a mom. Somewhere half-way across the world Lex has wormed her way into some strangers scrapbook.

It was sad to have the time go so quickly and have my master plan of being gone while David is studying backfire... But, as Lex sat in the front room this morning and looked around like she had no idea where she was, I can see it was time to come home.

To sum up: We are pretty much right where we started almost a month ago... home, toys scattered all over the floor, and looking forward to the day when the dreaded test is a thing of the past.Lex absolutely loves water... whether it was the frigid Gorge or heated hotel pool - she wanted in!This is one before I dunked her... after the dunking she doesn't really trust me. Anytime I started counting to 3 she got really stiff...

Dinosaur Land: Vernal, Utah - it took a whole 10 minutes to walk from one end of town to the other. When asking the locals where a good place to eat was in town, they responded "well, it's in another town..."See that look... too bad you can't see the "don't even think about it" look on my face! Mmmm - nothing tops a Gorge burger.This is the new smile... she is experimenting with the nose wrinkle and actually is afraid to open her mouth in fear I will force a spoon full of something in...

Cuddle Bug or Wiggle Worm?

I believe that most kids fall comfortably into one of two categories: cuddler or wiggler. Thus, for those who may have questions regarding which kind of insect they have on their hands, I have come up with a few simple questions...

1. While being held does the child forcefully use both arms and legs to push against you until they can see something more than just your face?
2. Does the child view your lap as a seat,or a minor road block to something more worth their time?
3. When you attempt to kiss the child, do they put up both hands as a shield and start swatting at your face the minute you move in?
4. When you try and rock the child, do they become so stiff it seems as tho you will need to find a surgeon to extract the metal rod shoved...
5. Can the child sit with you for more than 3 seconds without showing their obvious boredom?
6. Does the child thrive on being tossed around like a rag doll, and giggle at the feeling of gravity quickly pulling them to the ground?

Anyone who has had the opportunity to be around Lex knows exactly which category she falls into... Cuddler, of course! She is so content to sitting quietly. Even tho she can move around, she prefers to sit still and ponder... gee, I sure hope that one day she engages with the world around her and becomes interested in her surroundings.
For now, I guess that I will just keep waiting and hoping...