nothing but pictures

Mark's birthday celebration at Disneyland

Hiking

We have been spending time at the beach lately. A couple of weeks ago the water was actually warm enough to go swimming! Very fun.

Halloween

Our pumpkin creations. Mark's is on the left, and Bekah's on the right

We made caramel apples for the first time. Bekah got a little too ambitious on the first one and tried to put lots of caramel on. It all ended up sliding off into a mound of gooey mess.

17-18 weeks

Interview with Russel at 20 months

I: So, what has been going on in your life lately?

Russ: I have been so busy. I love reading. I have been reading lots of books about witches and brooms, ABCs, feet in the day and feet at night. I had this huge epiphany within the last month that everything, every object, every body part has a name. Did you know that? I have been working really hard at finding out the names of things and learning how to say them. It’s really hard work. My mouth doesn’t move like mommy’s yet, and the words come out all funny, but I practice and practice and practice.

Mom and me have swimming lessons in the tub. I can kick really good and am the best at blowing bubbles in the water.

I love playing sports, but I think soccer is my favorite. I kick and dribble the ball all over.

I: What’s been going on with your family?

Russ: My dad got a new job. I get to play with him a lot more now. He works for Mickey Mouse, which is so cool. Tomorrow I get to go to a big party at Mickey’s and my dad’s work. I’m really excited.

I: How are you like your father?

Russ: Oh, dad, well he looks exactly like me. Everywhere we go together people call him my “mini-me”. We’re twins.

Also, we love the same food. Mom gets it all wrong, and sometimes I’d rather go hungry than eat those nasty veggies she puts on my tray. When she puts them in front of me I look at her very sternly (so she can understand) and say “BO!” which means no, and throw them on the ground. She’s not catching on yet, but consistency is the most important thing.

Dad knows just what I like, because we’re the same. He gives me macaroni and cheese with cut up hot dogs. I laugh and clap so hard as soon as I taste that incredible deliciousness. I clap after every bite dad feeds me.

I: How are you like your mom?

Russ: It’s hard to say. I’m still pretty young. I love playing in the ocean, just like her. I love reading, just like her. And mom is really bad at hiding how she feels. I don’t even try. If I’m excited, happy, mad, or sad; people around me are going to know.

I: How do you find ways to help your mom around the house?

Russ: I think the most important thing is to show her she’s appreciated, you know. So I developed this system where I clap enthusiastically for her throughout the day. I clap for her after she sings me a song, or reads me a book, or cleans up my high chair. I think it goes a long way.

I: Do you ever disagree with your parents?

Russ: We do really disagree on one thing lately. I really love punching people in the face. When I get upset it just feels so good to give someone a whack. Sometimes I am playing and then I remember how fun it is to hit someone in the face, so I run up to mom or dad and just hit them. When I want something and they tell me, ‘no’ I have to hit them in the face so they understand I don’t like their behavior. Anyway, they are really stressed about it. They are being really strict with me whenever I do it, and it either makes me madder, or it makes me cry. Parents worry too much. Didn’t they hear the doctor say it was totally normal at my age? Didn’t they hear him say it would probably get worse before it got better?

I: What is the most important thing you do for your family?

Russ: I really teach my parents that you need to stop and play a lot. You need to laugh as hard as you can multiple times a day. Sometimes they keep running errands and forget to play, so I get really really grumpy, until they have to stop. Then I make them get down on the ground and chase me around and tickle me, and let me ride on their back, and throw me around and on the couch. It’s good for all of us. We just laugh and it is so much fun.

I also make mom and dad stop and kiss. I really like watching them kiss. When I can reach both of their heads I push them together and make them kiss. I do it over and over again. They are so cute.

I: Well I know you have a lot to do, and I should let you go. Thank you for your time, and I hope we will be able to catch up before too long.

The cure to morning sickness...

Curious are you? Well, when following this routine with exactness I almost always avoid throwing up. If I ignore, neglect or try to alter my routine I will pay for it.

First, I must not miss a dose of medicine. I have been on prescription medication for nausea this time around, which does help a lot, but is still not quite enough.

Second, I must eat 3 feet of sandwiches every day. This sounds crazy, but I will do whatever it takes to keep my head out of the toilet. I eat one 6 inch every two hours beginning at 10:00 am. I have a sandwich at 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 and 8:00. I must also have breakfast when I wake up, snack throughout the day, drink soda and have 2 bowls of cereal right before bed.

I know this raises questions. Where do all the sandwiches come from? Where do all the sandwiches go? Are they all the same? What kind of sandwich does the trick? How long has this been going on Bekah?

The sandwiches come from the nearby grocery store. Every morning I walk there and head straight for the deli. Everyone knows me and what I will order. The sandwiches are always chicken breast (my deli slices the chicken really thin which is easier on the stomach) on white (also easier on the stomach than wheat). Lastly, I have been doing this almost every day for 2 months.

To be honest I have often been able to replace the last sandwich for a regular dinner. I still have to eat dinner twice, but I am getting some nutritional variety in my body.

This leaves one last question: What does eating 3 feet of sandwiches daily do to a pregnant woman, or a fetus? I don't think anyone really knows yet.

My favorite thought on my sandwich eating came from my Mark. I am truly fearful of Luke being even larger than Russ at birth. I am afraid that if he is any bigger he seriously will not come out. I was telling Mark about this fear one day, and I hopefully said, "this one will be smaller." He laughed out loud and said, "Honey, you have been eating from my foot to my waist in sandwiches every day for two months, I don't think this baby is going to be smaller than Russ." Puts 3 feet in perspective doesn't it?

Where in the world?

People are starting to ask where the heck we are. Are we in New Zealand yet? For the last six months we have been planning to relocate to Auckland, New Zealand with PwC. Mark interviewed, received an offer, we accepted, gave notice to our employers, renewed passports and filled out unbelievable amounts of visa paperwork. We have been very excited to spend two years living in the most beautiful country in the world.


Four weeks before we were to be moving from our apartment here in Sherman Oaks we found out a BIG surprise. We are pregnant! Or rather, I am. This is Bekah by the way, if Mark were pregnant it would be a huge miraculous and really freaky surprise.


This was such a big surprise because in June we had been told by Mark's employer in New Zealand that if we were pregnant we could not attain our work visas. At this point we stopped trying for a baby, hence our big surprise in August. If you want further explanation on how this happens, too bad.


We still wanted to move to New Zealand if there was any way. Unfortunately, it seemed the only way involved a commitment from us to not use government health care whatsoever during the next two years. And when we found it impossible to qualify for any international or national health insurance, we decided to avoid possible bankruptcy and stay in the states where we have health insurance.

So, we are so excited to announce that we are expecting Gardner baby numero dos! I am 12 weeks along, and just finished my first trimester. I got to see the little babe in an ultrasound yesterday. It was so cute, jumping around, and then sat still long enough for us to get a good look at its little face, tummy arms, legs and what?!? Is that what I think it is? Yup, it's a boy!


We are so happy to have another lovable little boy. We are naming him Lucas Arthur. Arthur after my wonderful, hilarious grandfather.


In answer to other commonly asked questions;

• Due April 15th


• Yes, I have been sick with this pregnancy as well, but with the help of some medications have been feeling much better than I did with Russ. I think that the nausea will taper off in the next four weeks.


• No, we are not out of a home and job, we were so lucky to both have understanding employers who were excited to have us stay when we explained our situation.

The most commonly asked question of the last 24 hours: Are you sad it's another boy?

• Not at all. I am so happy. Honestly I would have been very happy either way. Mark on the other hand immediately said, "Well we'll just have to try again." He wants a little red-headed girl really bad, but I am sure he will love this new kid on the block.

12 weeks

While reading, remember, he's only 18 months

So, Russ took an elevator ride by himself the other day. You have never seen a woman down and up a flight of stairs so fast!

Explanation; the elevator has been Russell's favorite room in the building for some time. The laundry room in our apartment building is located right next to the elevator landing. While I do laundry Russ runs around the laundry room, and the elevator landing area, and the hall.

Further Explanation; I was watching Russ while throwing clothes into the washing machine. He stood right in front of the elevator as it opened and two people walked out. He gave them a very friendly "Hi" and smile. I also waved my hello as they walked down the hall. Just as the door was closing Russ darted inside the empty elevator.

My heart seriously stopped. I immediately pushed the call button about five times as I heard his little voice going down the elevator shaft. My mind raced to those two bright red emergency call buttons in the elevator, right at Russell's eye level. The ones he always tries to push, but I don't let him. What happens when you push those buttons anyway? Does the elevator stop?

As I was thinking these thoughts I was also running down the stairwell and onto the first floor, where his little voice was headed. I pushed the call button down there about five times, but it seemed it was already headed back up. I sprinted back up the steps to the second floor as the elevator door began opening and little Russ Russ, happy as can be stepped out of the elevator as if nothing had happened.

New Orleans

BYU rocks my socks off. I completely supported Mark in going to the game in Texas with his buddies, but I was also green with envy. I ended up going to Vegas for the weekend so I could watch the game with all my family, instead of all alone. What an awesome game. Mark will probably post about his Texas trip in the near future.

Rewind to the weekend before. Jessica and I made a trip to New Orleans to visit my sister Shelley. We had an amazing time. New Orleans is a flavorful, beautiful and delicious city. We spent time in the French Quarter, went on a swamp tour to see wild alligators,

ate at one of Emeril Lagasse's restuarants, escaped a scary man who followed us down a couple of streets and into a bar where he was escorted out by security, listened to great Jazz, and played with Shelley's family.

The three of us in the French Quarter

I loved all the beautiful iron!

Our river/swamp tour was amazing. The river was incredibly beautiful and peaceful...even with wild gators swimming around.

Here she comes

Look at that pretty profile

Our guide told us that alligators have been on earth for 200 million years...longer than dinosaurs. Prehistoric is the perfect word to describe how she looked.

Seeing wasn't enough to satisfy Shelley, Jessica and I.

We reached in to feel her with our fingers.

There were many weekend retreats lining the river.

Most had been restored since Katrina, but many had not.

Eating at Emeril's "NOLA"

Everything I tasted in New Orleans was incredible

We couldn't leave without listening to live Jazz

Auntie Bekah with Shea. We are little twins with out bright red hair. Isn't she so cute?

So, I had a perfect weekend in New Orleans. Thanks Shell for being such a great hostess.

Yo

This is Mark. Haven't blogged in a long long long time. Thought the boys would get a kick out of this...I was able to have a tour of ESPN studios in LA last night. Bekah, myself, and a friend from work were on the set for the 10PM Sportcenter standing feet away from Neil and Stan watching them do what they do best. :) This was a couple minutes before they went LIVE. What a time. It just so happens that it is from these seats that they will be announcing a GREAT UPSET next Saturday when BYU UPENDS OKLAHOMA. I could feel it in my bones as I sat in that seat. :) GO BYU. Later