BIG dumb Blonde

With Ellie, I had it. With this one, I seem to have it worse. If you have been pregnant or closely around someone who is pregnant, you will know what I am talking about. It's what I like to call "Pregnancy Brain." One of the MOST ANNOYING symptoms I get when I am pregnant. It's the reason I have to write down EVERYTHING that I need to remember. It's also the reason that I have alarms set on my phone so I don't miss anything important; like, oh say, remembering to get Ellie from preschool for example. It seems the MORE PREGNANT I get, the more things I seem to be doing that are "not quite right." Here are some I have done lately.

The other day, I was filling out a registration card for a new baby item that we have. I didn't think twice about putting on my name, address, and phone number. I clipped it to the door with a magnet, so I would remember to put it in the mailbox. Shayne noticed something "off" about the little post card though. For my address I had written, 1037 S. 1037 S., plus the rest of my address. Smart! 1037 S. 810 E. would have been better.

Ellie has been sick today, throwing up and the whole bit! Well, we have been working on laundry all day to clean up the messes that come when a child is sick. So I went up to Shayne and said, "are those suitcases needing to be cleaned, or can I just put them away?" He kinda looked at me like, "HUH?" so I said again, "will we need to clean the suitcases, or can I just fold them up and put them away???" He squinted at me and said, "SUITCASES?" DUH! I was so annoyed at myself. "I meant SLEEPING BAGS." Sheesh.

Another one of my favorite annoying things I do is I always sit down, only to realize I forgot to get something. For example, I will get up off the couch to get a bottle or water... then I realize that since I am up, I may as well go to the bathroom right? Then, I forget all about the reason I got up and sit back down on the couch and finally it hits me "I didn't get my water, did I?" This regularly happens with the cell phone, and I have been known to close the computer without remembering to check the thing that I went on the computer for.

In the beginning of my pregnancy, some of the things I did could have been very bad for me. One thing I did quite often is leave my purse, or wallet places - luckily I always got them back before harm was done. One time I left my drivers license at the credit union. I didn't realize that I had left my drivers license until one night, very late, when I was driving home from the gas station with a load of treats and flashing lights came behind me. I was being pulled over. I was confused because I was going the speed limit, and it seemed like there was no reason to be pulled over. The officer informed me I had been driving without my lights on... I was so embarrassed. Luckily, the officer gave me a warning.

I could write pages and pages of the dumb things that I am doing but I won't. I probably pregnancy brain forgot most of them anyway. Needless to say, I am so glad to be nearing the end of my pregnancy and hopefully my brain cells will switch back on after a while. I hope I don't do anything too stupid before that time, like leave the stove on and burn the house down or something. Wish me luck. :/ I don't realize when I am doing it, so I will need it.

HaPpY bIrThDaY to Ellie! HaPpy bIrThDaY to You!

With everything going on preparing and waiting for the baby, Shayne and I felt it would be best to move up Ellie's birthday this year to April 17th, just less than 2 weeks early of her actual birthday on April 29. With a few friends and family, Hello Kitty decorations and cupcakes, balloons, and a couple GLITTER TOES consultants, we had our party.

Each girl, and the adult women that wanted to, were able to get a pedicure and their own set of glitter toes. Glitter Toes are a special acrylic paint that is supposed to stay on your toes longer than just regular nail polish would - some even 2-3 months. Everyone loved being pampered. Even our youngest party guest, Alice (2 years old), loved getting her nails done. It was so cute. To entertain the girls who weren't getting their nails done we also had face painting, a fishing game, and sock toss.

The next day, Ellie was asking to use glass plates because "5 year olds don't break things," and telling me "you're not the boss of me!" I can tell that just her being five now makes her feel like such BIG STUFF. It cracks me up the things that she claims a 5 year old gets away with that 4 year olds don't. I love her so much. She still has one week before she is "officially" 5 years old but I am still in shock that my Ellie is 5. . She is one of my best friends and companions and I hope that I will always be for her too.

Happy Birthday Ellie! Mommy and Daddy sure love you!

Baby Update :)

We noticed some exciting things during my non stress test and ultrasound today. First, we noticed that Kaitlyn was fetal breathing which is AWESOME because this means her little lungs are ready! It was wonderful to see her little ribcage breathing in and out. Also, during my test we noticed that I am having small contractions. I have been noticing contractions at home (sometimes painful) but nothing major. The fluids today were lower than they have been in weeks, but given that they are at the lowest end of normal, they sent me home with instruction to do more resting and to come back in a week. Of course none of this means that she will be here in a day, week, or two weeks even, but I take it as a good sign that everything is working like it should! I can't wait to meet this little angel! She will be here before we know it!

Ellie Munn

Ellie is literally the light of my life. She does the silliest things! She says the silliest things! I am constantly smiling over this kid. Ellie is super friendly (even though a little on the shy side). She is also sensitive to the feelings of others and truly WANTS everyone to be happy. She is such a blessing this blog is to celebrate the great kid that my Ellie is!

Ellie does the silliest things. This morning, when we were getting ready for church, Ellie was "busy." She found my legal pad and was making signs for her bedroom. Check them out!

RULES TO ELLIE'S ROOM
#1. NO SINGING.

#2. NO THROWING THINGS.

#3. NO EATING ELLIE'S PRINGLES!!!

Ellie says the silliest things. Lately, since I am going on 36 weeks pregnant, when Ellie gives me a hug she likes to tell me in her innocent way "your getting too big to hug." In any other circumstance, I might be crying, but since I am getting SO BIG, all is forgiven. Lately too, she has began the process of "tricking" her parents. Last night, she didn't eat her dinner well :/, saying "I am full" which after a while we accepted. After dinner, we went to the store, and Ellie had to buy her favorite chips. Then in the car, she made me open them. We said, "but Ellie, we thought you said you were full?" Ellie rationalized saying, "I WAS full but now I'm just hungry again." RIGHT!!!

Ellie is super friendly. Wherever I go, Ellie is waving at people. She loves to go up and adore babies and greet other people's children with a huge smile. This past week, we were playing outside while our H.O.A. did some yard work. I thought it was so sweet that we went up to these men who were not even speaking English, and helped them with their tasks. She gathered leaves with them, she threw away trash and sticks, and even took a shovel at one point to help with the weeding. Then when they passed our row of houses she got on her bike, waved, and said a hearty "BYE!!!" It was so cute.

Ellie is sensitive to others feelings and wants everyone to be happy. I seldom have to use the "time out" system anymore because Ellie genuinely wants and desires for us as parents to be happy with her. It usually only takes a warning for Ellie to correct a behavior or action that is making us bothered as parents. As my pregnancy continues, Ellie has always been my helper (sometimes too much of a help). She is my "picker upper" and helps me with most of the "bending" needed around the house - like to pick up trash. She loves helping me cook which is definitely not always the easiest thing for me to let her do, but I never turn her down for the chance to help. I KNOW she will be such a blessing when the baby is born.

There are so many things I can write about how precious she is to us as a family. There is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for her and the sweet spirit that she adds to our family. We are celebrating her birthday this Saturday (two weeks early) so we can be ready for anything and give her a great celebration for her birthday. It will be so fun to celebrate her before we have another baby to focus on as well. I love her so much. She will always and forever have a very special place in my heart and nothing can or ever will change that.

eAsTeR 2010

Our Easter only had one thing that would have made it better; some SUNSHINE! Overall however, we had a perfect holiday. Friday night, we decided to color our Easter eggs. Shayne, the pro that he is at egg coloring, taught his daughter how to create the perfect egg including the "half and half" and his famous "tie-dyed" eggs.

By the time Sunday rolled around, Ellie was extremely built up with anticipation! So this morning when she woke up, rubbed her eyes, and realized a plastic Easter egg was hiding right by her, she began her hunt. It didn't take her long to find all the eggs, and after a while she managed to find her basket too. That morning we had a big breakfast and during which we made sure to tell her the REAL reason we celebrate Easter. It was great to see how much she already knew about the atonement and Resurrection of our Savior. It was a tender moment to our day and a very special time for our family.

Later on we met with Shayne's side of the family at Grandpa Underwood's house for a "picnic indoors." Our original plan was to go to Salem Pond, but this being April in UTAH and CONFERENCE WEEKEND it was our destiny to have it snow today and we woke up to a blanket of it. We made the best of it however and had a blast spending time with Grandpa and enjoying the piles of food before us. Later that night, after Ellie's sugar rush ended, Ellie went to bed with her new purple stuffed lamb and as parents we realized we're back to another week.

We had a great Easter holiday and hope that you did too! HAPPY EASTER!!!

April Fools, Ellie!!!!

Shayne and I got a big kick out of playing an April Fool's Day joke on Ellie. We heard that at THE SWEET TOOTH FAIRY they had special "fish cupcakes" today. This got us to thinking about something funny we could prank Ellie with!

We picked up the fish cupcakes just before dinner. They looked quite convincing with their blue frosting and red swedish fish on top. After dinner we sat around the table for our dessert. That's when we told Ellie they are fish cupcakes and they actually TASTE like fish! She believed our every word. She eyeballed the cupcakes, and wouldn't take a bite. I took the first bite, acting like I was going to throw up.

Still not wanting to try our cupcakes, I told her, "you'll like these they taste just like TUNA FISH!" Ha ha, Ellie loves tuna fish and it didn't surprise me that she DOVE IN. After eating the cupcake and saying, "I LOVE fish cupcakes," that we told her it was all a joke! They never tasted like fish! More like pineapple the whole time. We all got a big laugh out of it. I love April Fools Day.