Thursday, October 30, 2008

Chuck-E-Cheese!


Thank you Sloan Lyon for being born 1 year ago, because of you Wendy got to experience Chuck E Cheese for the first time! More like she got to watch while Ryan & I experienced it. Her favorite thing there was definitely the robotic Chuck E Cheese band! She wouldn't stop staring at them in awe, giggling randomly with delight. She seems to be braver than Ryan or I. We both feared costumed characters as children. 

Monday, October 27, 2008

6 MONTHS!







  • 16 lbs 9 oz
  • loves avocado 
  • doesn't so much care for rice cereal
  • favorite word: "yahyahyahyah..."
  • REALLY loves ice cream (thanks to Grandpa Lamb, yes I was freaking out :)
  • sitting up on her own (as you can see)
  • smiling at anyone who'll look at her (unless looking at her through the lens of a camera)
  • mastered the johnny jumper
  • always laughs at "peek-a-boo"
  • grabby grabby grabber (hair, earrings & glasses look out)

*thank you Nessa for the pictures! I looooovve them.


Friday, October 24, 2008

Pumpkin Carving/Office Party!!



Every Thursday night is a PARTY because I get to hang out with Aaron, Rachel, and Dwight Schrewt. They bring "The Office" board game (yes- I said "board game" complete with office olympics & schrewt bucks!) Yesterday we expanded the party to include Mossi, Sharla, Whitney's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and some pumpkin carving! 





My mom always told me, "Without mothers, there would be no holidays." So true. Think about it- who makes the festive food and crafty decorations? Who makes your family take the cheesy everyone-has-to-match family portrait? Who makes your halloween costume out of forgotten hand-me-down treasures? And I'm so thankful she did because it made all the difference.

I realized that the cheesy mom came out in me when I made sure Wendy was wearing her halloween p.j.'s for the pumpkin carving/office party (fully equipped with witch's hat beanie). I can't help it.
     

*I'm so in love with that gummy smile...


*the "not so much a smile" smile
     

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Not So Quiet Life of Mrs. Whispers- Part III



In my attempt to be a good wife, save money, and help Ryan eat a little healthier, I decided to make him a healthy brown-bag lunch to bring to work just twice a week. Let me first tell you that Ryan grew up in a home where they had nightly 3 course, home-cooked, sit down, family dinners.

Sounds great, right? Well, Ryan felt a little deprived in the fast-food department growing up and is making up for it now. So it took some convincing, on my part, for him to let me do this. He says going out to lunch helps him get away from the office and take a "real break."

Me: Hey, what's this In-N-Out receipt?
Ryan: Oh... I owed my co-worker lunch because she bought yesterday.
Me: Wow. She eats a lot.

... About 10 minutes goes by...

Ryan: Okay, I can't lie to you anymore. I sold the lunch you made me.
Me: You what?
Ryan: Well, everyone went to In-N-Out so what was I supposed to do?
Me: Who bought my lunch? (speechless, but slowly realizing the comedy here)
Ryan: Kyle.
Me: How much?
Ryan: Two dollars.
Me: What if I put a note on your napkin?
Ryan: Oh, don't worry. I checked first.

I still don't know what's funnier, the fact that he sold it, the fact that he sold it for two dollars, OR the fact that someone actually bought it.

Poor Ryan, he doesn't get away with anything, because I manage the check book. No wonder the man likes to carry cash.


Friday, October 17, 2008

Trying to do my part


I've never been that interested in politics but, for those of you who will be voting, I encourage you to research the candidates and propositions at hand. When it comes to discussing political views, I agree with David Bednar when he said, "people can talk, they can appreciate each other and they can have divergent and very different points of view, and they can still get along. And they can even still love each other.” So if you disagree with me, don't hate me.

Fact: Proposition 8 does not take away from same-sex couples any rights that they currently have under a legal civil union.

I truly believe that gay couples should have all the same civil rights as heterosexual couples. I feel the same way as Obama's Vice Presidential Candidate, Joe Biden, when he stated that neither "Barack Obama, nor I, support redefining... what constitutes marriage... The bottom line though is... that there should be no civil rights distinction, none whatsoever, between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple." (California Family Code, 297.5)
I don't believe this issue is about discrimination in any way, but the definition of the word marriage.

Fact: Because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, if Prop 8 doesn't pass, schools will be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners.

This is already happening in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage was legalized in 2004. A father in Massachusettes was even arrested for "trespassing" when he went to his child's school to demand a permission slip so that he could remove his children from school on the day that homosexual marriage would be discussed. 
It's already happening here in California, where a 1st grade class was taken to their teacher's lesbian wedding as a "field trip."
Even right now there is a bill on Gov. Schwarzenegger's desk waiting to be singed, bill AB 2567, that will officially designate May 22nd as "Harvey Milk Day," where children as young as kindergarten will be taught about different sexual orientations. (You can call 916-445-2841 and press "2" to oppose this bill- it only takes 1  minute).

Fact:  If Prop 8 doesn't pass, it will create “inevitable clashes between religious liberty and free speech.” -David Bednar

If Prop 8 doesn't pass, it will be considered discrimination to preach in churches that homosexuality is a sin. 

"Religious institutions that publicly express their religious disapproval of same-sex marriage risk hate-speech and hate-crime litigation." -The Becket Fund (in the case ofKerrigan et. Al. v. Commissioner of Public Health et.)

Church's could lose their tax exemption status on the basis that they are a "discriminatory organization."
In Massachusettes, the Catholic Church has had to shut down their adoption agency rather than compromise their beliefs.  

I believe marriage is a very special, very sacred religious union between one man and one woman. I don't have hate for anyone. Calling myself a "Christian" does not make me a hypocrite. Christ loved everyone, but he did not condone everything. And I don't want the right to teach my child the difference between right and wrong taken away from me. That's all. 
  • If you're not registered to vote- you can register here. It's easy & free!
  • If you are going to vote "No" on 8- thank you for hearing me out.
  • If you are undecided- do some research and really think about the issues presented.
  • If you are going to vote "Yes"- you can help out. Get a yard sign, bumper sticker, volunteer time, talk to your friends & family.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Quirky


Rachel tagged me! (Love you sis.) The topic is "Quirks." I am to tell 6 quirks about me, so here we go...

1.  I have OCD when it comes to m&m's. I always eat them the same way- separated by color, put in rainbow order, then I eat them so that I have the same number of each color. When I only have one of each color left, I make sure that I eat the m&m's that will leave me with my favorite color combinations... Wow, that didn't seem so weird until I typed it out.  
2. I hold onto balled up napkins for hours without realizing it. One day I saw my aunt Ruth do the same thing and I freaked out. I guess it's genetic. 
3. I'm addicted to cracking my pinky toes. Like a nervous tick. I didn't realize how much I was doing it until I broke my left pinky toe. I can do it over & over again. (that's what she said)
4. I CAN'T STAND the feeling of a wooden popsicle stick against my teeth! It's worse than nails on a chalkboard. Sometimes, I'll even throw away the end of my popsicle just to avoid it.
5. I'm deathly afraid of birds. I had a bad experience as a child that involved some angry geese. The quirky part is that I love birds if they're not real- in art, pictures, jewelry, and all over Wendy's room.
6. I love to go "online window shopping." I even go so far as to put whatever I want into my virtual shopping cart. If you logged on as me at almost any major online store (gap.com, potterybarn.com, amazon.com crateandbarrel.com, anthropolie.com, etsy.com, tinyprints.com, ikea.com, etc.) you would find a shopping cart with at least $200 worth of stuff at each site. Sometimes, if something I REALLY like goes on sale, I'll actually buy it. 

Saturday, October 4, 2008

5 Months!





I am slowly losing my enthusiasm for this project. Wendy HATES having her picture taken. You should see me try to get a decent photo- making weird noises, tickling, waving stuffed animals through the air like a crazy person, with one dead arm holding up the camera, just in case. 

And she knows what she's doing. Notice how her arm is covering the words in the ONE good photo I got!? It always turns out that way. Just ask Nessa. Usually, she finally starts cooperating, then I realize that she's flipping off the camera, or the battery dies. 

ANYWAY... 5 months. I am loving 5 months! Here's the update:
  • Weight: 15lbs 10oz
  • Length: 26 inches
  • Sleeping in her own room- & sleeping (a little) better- hooray!
  • Rolling all over the place
  • Addicted to "Baby Einstein"
  • Mastering the Johnny Jumper
  • She found her vocal chords & loves to do this ear-piercing girly squeal
  • Reaching out for things/people she wants 
  • Still giggling up a storm (that will NEVER get old)
Here's a special treat for you. THIS is how Wendy really feels about getting her picture taken...



Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Geez! These things are everywhere...

I've been triple-tagged by:







2. Colt- You can find out how I feel about Colt here. I don't remember how we met, (probably through mutual friends) but I'm glad we did. 



*forgive me for using a pregnant picture- I think you look great in it

3. Ruthy- my (favorite) aunt. She was only a little girl when I came into this world and, much to her dismay, started stealing her cabbage patch dolls. She is my own personal nurse's-hotline for baby questions & she always gives the best advice. 

10 years ago:
1. I was 15 
2. I was a sophomore @ Fullerton High School 
3. I loved going to shows at the hub, public storage, and the glass house 
4. I had serious cleopatra bangs, braces, and a different nose
5. I spent most weekends at Disneyland or church dances

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. Take Wendy to get her 2nd round of shots :(
2. Clean the house
3. Go get fitted for my bridesmaid dress for
Jenn's wedding!
4. Enchilada's, beans & rice dinner with Ryan (leftovers from my M.I.L. Bobbi- SO good!)
5. Project Runway Party!!!

5 snacks I enjoy: 
1. Humus & pita bread from Brea farmer's market
2. Frozen blueberries in strawberry/blackberry yogurt
3. 100 calorie reeses sticks
4.
Erika's lemon cookies
5. Handful of Belgian chocolate chips from Tata

5 things I'd do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off all my student loans
2. Buy a house!!! (and maybe a summer home/villa in Italy)
3. Help out my family
4. Trip to Europe
5. Indulge my vanity: never shave again (laser hair removal), personal trainer, personal chef/nutritionist, etc. 

5 places I've lived:
1. Fullerton- first 18 years of my life
2. Rexburg- BYUI
3. Brea- Ruthy's house for 1 month before I got married
4. Fullerton- SHADY 1st apartment with Ryan
5. Brea- renting great house from my wonderful in-laws

5 jobs I've had: 
1. Photographer's Assistant- Ruby Photography
2. Team Member- Jamba Juice
3. Dental Assistant- Random Dental Offices
4. Dental Hygienist
5. Momma- by far the hardest one! (I agree with you Lynsey)

I tag:
1. Cambi McCullough
2. Courtney Jones
3. Bethany Elliott
4. Melany Larsen
5. Lana Wren