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Only 17 days left...hopefully the post office is ready!

My friend, Sara, blogged about this giveaway that Shutterfly is doing.  I've never sent out Christmas cards, but honestly, how can you beat free, especially 50 free cards?  It's enough to make me send out a Christmas card to my husband's ex-girlfriends (yes, plural :D)

Hopefully, sending out Christmas cards will make me feel more "grown-up" and "adult-like".  The only problem will be deciding which picture(s) to use, that will appropriately show off how adorable my little boy is (and maybe how good-looking Aaron & I are, but maybe we don't want to make people {THAT} jealous)

My in-laws give us a calendar every year with pictures from the year before from Shutterfly.  When Aaron was on his mission, he had a calendar from his parents with all sorts of little encouragements on each day.  It's one of his favorite memories from serving.  They also make great Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts. 

My favorite is bright and bold

I'm already guessing what type of background they'll choose.

I love how classy this one looks, and I also have the ability to pull lots of pictures from the entire year

I've also been wanting for so long to get a canvas art from Modern Bird Studios, but they're SO expensive, and way out of my price range.  I didn't even know that Shutterfly offers canvas art, and it's affordable--meaning you won't have to break your piggy bank to afford a nice piece of art that will last a long time.

Want some?  Are you practically drooling over the chance to get something for FREE?  Especially something that is so nice...come on, click the link

 HERE

(Hurry, you only have until December 10)



Now comes the hard part--writing the post was easy.  But which Christmas card should I choose?  There's 5 pages worth. 

More Movement

He crawls now. 

Here's the proof.

Rights Overload

I just read this article about Proposition 8 in California.  It makes me so angry when the basis of the plaintiff's argument is that marriage is a right, and that because it is a fundamental right, Proposition 8 violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution.


I'm sorry, but marriage is not a right.  It's a privilege.


Here's my reasoning.


Is polygamy/bigamy allowed?

Will we let first cousins marry? (okay, so some states will, but it is not a country wide thing)

Will we let a father marry his daughter?  Or a mother her son?  Or an uncle his niece?

Will we let someone marry their dog? (or any other pet/animal)

In Europe, marriages performed in the LDS temples are not recognized as valid.  They must first marry civilly, and then they can be sealed.  If they chose to only participate in the sealing, their marriage is not recogized as lawful, and so God or the church won't recognize it either.

So, we deny the right to marry whomever we choose to heterosexual couples as well.  Why?  Because we see it as morally reprehensible to let one man marry more than one woman, because it is likely that children born to extremely close relatives can be genetically "awkward".  Why are those okay arguments for denying those forms of marriage, but for homosexual marriages are seen as "bigoted" and "narrow-minded"?

I'm not going to end with a caveat about how homosexuals are good people blah blah blah, because they are, that's not what this post is about.

The argument that love makes everything okay, that because we love the person whatever they want to do is acceptable, is wrong.  I love Cade, and I love him more than I love his happiness, and so, I'm not going to let him stick something into an electric outlet, even though, I know it would make him happy (for a second anyway).

Thanksgiving

So, I'm almost a week behind, but I never bring my camera anywhere because my inlaws always take much better pictures, and I've had to wait until they were posted on facebook so I could steal them.

 

We went up to Kaysville for Thanksgiving, something that (on  Tuesday when the "supposed" blizzard was going to occur) I was very thankful for that we didn't have to be trying to drive down to Overton in it.  I was disappointed.  I WANTED a blizzard.  I was safe inside, and it would have been cool to see.

This is my favorite picture.  Poor little ornament.  He never saw it coming.  At least he died famous.

Cade kept touching Asher.  Good thing he's a good sport about it.

It was SO bright and cold outside.  At least Cade looks good, because, that's the only reason I take pictures, is to show him off.

Feel free to want my baby's blue eyes.  I really hope they stay.

Cade's picture taking face.

Take 52 (notice again Cade's zoned out look seen only for the camera)

from left to right: Noah, Emery, Asher, and Cade



More of Cade's picture taking face.  Yes, the hat is pink with sequins (Aaron was not in the room when this was taken)

We loved our Thanksgiving.  I was sad to have the weekend be over, and sad to lose my extra helper.  It will be so nice once Aaron's done with school.  I try really hard to remember what President Monson said and to enjoy the stage of life I'm at right now, but, for the past 3 days now, he's left at 7:30am and come home at 9:30pm.  I'm ready for that to end.  I feel like I married a bishop.

Round 2

If you haven't gotten the announcement on facebook, Aaron and I are going to be adding to our family in June 2011 (my official due date is June 11).

To answer questions:

{NO} this wasn't planned

{YES} we are excited

{YES} I know how close this baby and Cade will be, but think of it this way, at least I won't have JUST gotten him out of diapers before starting all over again


My brother-in-law Kristo, told Aaron that U.S. snipers wear a badge on their army jackets, that says, "One shot, One kill."  He's going to make him (Aaron) one for Christmas. 


I've felt really great.  No sickness, no cramping, no tender boobs, nothing.  I did have to stop nursing because the extra 600 calories I needed to feed Cade, and the extra 300 for the baby, was a little much.  I know, weird, who can't handle an extra 900 calories?  I'm sad about it, but there are also benefits to not being the sole provider of food.  He's taken to a bottle really well though, and since we were already on solid foods, the changes in poop smell weren't THAT obvious.




Oh, and the one thing I've learned about this?  NEVER, EVER be alone with your husband while your sister-in-law named Lizz is having a baby.  Because you WILL get pregnant.  (Case in point, with Lizz's 1st baby, Asher, my sister-in-law Ashley got pregnant and was due exactly 9 months after Asher was born.  With Lizz's 2nd baby, Emery, it was my turn.  Yup, my due date is 9 months after Emery was born.) 

But I'm weird and notice patterns like that. 

Putting Off Doing the Dishes

There's a lovely pile of dishes in my kitchen sink--and I really don't feel like doing them.  So I'm desperately trying to think of something to write.

• not as many people think I'm weird for putting up my Christmas stuff last Saturday as I thought would.  Many are jealous.
• apparently, cabbage leaves in your bra, can help relieve breast engorgement (eh, I tried it, and I wasn't too impressed.  All it did was make me smell cabbage, and smell like cabbage)
• there are over 9,000,000 little bumps on a basketball (I learned that today doing ChaCha.  Someone actually asked.  I wanted to tell them to count them, but apparently someone already has.)
• Aaron and I have more friends that I thought.  We honestly do nothing but go to church and hang out by ourselves, and people still like us.  Score. 
• there are people who have only ever known me by my married name. 
• Thanksgiving is in one week.

• and this little guy will never learn to crawl--because rolling in circles around the living room is WAY more fun.  Plus, crawling would make him lose that double chin he's worked so hard to get.

Kendra, this is for you

A friendly reminder from Kendra made me realize that I have been rather terrible at this blogging thing...which is hypocritical, because I love the people who update regularly.

My Gramma gave Cade her old high chair.  I love having the first grandchild/great-grandchild on my side of the family, because that means that we get all the stuff that no one wants anymore.  Kim and Gary, well, they're out of luck.  We have everything.  It's been nice to have all 3 of us at the table (which only happens on Sundays because Aaron has to work full-time, so he works late) eating dinner.  We've been working on feeding him just what we eat, because I really don't want to be one of those moms that has to make 3 or 4 different meals to satisfy my kids.

 

{In my nutrition class, we had to read a book by Ellyn Satter that talked about the division of responsibility when it comes to eating.  She says that parents are responsible for what is served and when it is served, and that children are responsible for what they eat and how much they eat.}

So we had Cade up at the table with us, and we fed him pumpkin bread, peaches, and hash browns.  He LOVED it.  I still haven't found anything that he doesn't like.  

Speaking of Cade, he is the reason that none of my Christmas decorations are up yet.  Even though he can't crawl--that does not stop him from getting everywhere.  Looks like my days of cute decorations are over for now.  We're thinking of putting the tree up on the coffee table so it's more out of reach of curious mouths.  

 Aaron has been interviewing with a bunch of different financial companies.  I was telling my mom that I was really jealous of some of my friends who are going to law school, medical school, dental school, and optometry school, because they don't have to look for jobs, but she reminded me that, that part is just getting put off for a couple more years, so, I guess it evens out in the end. 

I thought I knew which job I wanted Aaron to get--but the more job interviews he gets--well, my mind changes.  I thought I wanted him to take the job at Heritage Financial Group, but after finding out that they don't offer any leads at all, and that AXA Financial in Salt Lake does, well now I want AXA--until I learn about something else.

A couple of months ago, I started working for ChaCha, basically, I answer questions that people text to ChaCha, and then send them back.  I've gotten some pretty funny ones.  One today wanted to know if they could find their soulmate by testing DNA (and I actually found an answer for it on the internet).  I get lots of kids who want me to do their homework for them (I like those, they pay more), and someone wanted to know if a kangaroo or a bullet was faster (it took all my self control to not say, duh).  Aaron likes to come home and have me read out the best ones from the day.  I'm saving up my pennies to get Cade's pictures taken by Skye Johansen.  She's expensive, but I love her pictures. 

(what my little hurricane has been up to lately.  He loves anything that crinkles)

Why I Wish Money Grew on Trees

Sigh....

Desires To Improve

{this is sort of a musing type of post, reader beware}

Lately, I've been praying for the desire to improve.  I normally just go through life, without much worry about what I'm doing, or who I am becoming.  But, God doesn't work that way.  It's not okay if I just go through the motions, because, I know, and more importantly HE knows, that I am definitely a work in progress.

Ever since I was little, I have to listen to something in order to fall asleep.   My freshman year, I had such a hard time sleeping because I had a roommate other than my ever patient sister---until, one day, I discovered that I could sleep with my iPod in.  And I've been doing it ever since.

A couple of nights ago, I was listening to a book that I'd listened to before, (those are the best type to fall asleep to, because you don't stay awake to hear what happens) and I felt so guilty.  There was stuff in there I knew was not appropriate, but it had never bothered me before. 

I kept listening.

And kept feeling guilty.

And then, a thought bubble popped in my head.

"Rachelle, you've been praying to become better.  Do you really mean it, or are you just saying it to make yourself feel better?"

I went back and forth.  I told myself I already knew what had happened, I had already been soiled by hearing the book the first time, but I knew, deep down, that I would be embarrassed if my kids or Aaron heard it. 

I turned it off, (and it was hard!).

And now, I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  Much less embarrassing.

I don't know.  Sometimes I wish that I was guilty of big sins, because I think I would feel more of a need for the Savior.  I think that's what President Packer says that some of us are tested by ease and luxury.  I will definitely raise my hand up on that one.  Even with the trials that I've gone through, I still would not trade places with some people that I know. 

So, prayer works....



....even when you don't want it to sometimes. 

Reasons Why I'm Happy Today

Aaron and I went to see the Lion King last night in Salt Lake.  I LOVED it.  Made me wish I was black so I could sing and dance amazingly.

I got to play with this little guy today.  He was showing me just how he gets those amazing abs

I finished a clock for my Grandma & Grandpa Lyon's 50th wedding anniversary.  I'm excited to give it to them (to any family members who may read this, please keep it on the d.l.)--and I know it's missing the hands, I'm going to add those when we get to Overton, that way they won't break or get bent on the trip down.

• My sister Kim and her husband Gary are going to go to Lagoon on Saturday and they asked to stay with us.  
• Aaron has Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off--he also got a promotion.  

Pineview Vacation

Aaron's family goes up to Pineview Resevoir every summer.  Here's our vacation, as told in pictures. 

love those chubby cheeks

Cade and I at the pool.  He was a little chilly.

Playing rockband .  It's nice to have a brother-in-law (Kristo) who knows every song ever written.  As you can tell, my contacts were drying out, hence the squint.

We have officially reached the drooling stage. 

My idea of tubing

This is the first time Aaron's hair has ever been long enough to "blow" in the breeze.  I like it.  Makes him look less bald.

Asher, my nephew, and his dad, Nick, tubing.  Grandpa made sure to go slow.

The sun was just a tiny bit bright.

What do you mean I'm going to have to sleep in the closet?

Wonderful Day

Cade and I went up to Salt Lake for Lizz's baby shower.  After 3 grandsons, the McCombs side of the family is finally having a girl.  Seeing all the cute little baby clothes, with pink and ruffles, and little cupcakes..but Cade's clothes are pretty cute too, and the baby totally makes up for any lack of squeals that boy clothes may cause on my part.

I got told I was skinny today.


I haven't heard that in a long time, not since 9th grade.  It was nice.


I spent most of my high school years hovering around the 160's.  Sometimes, when I'd go on a diet and run, I could make it down to the high 150's, but never below that.  I was never really comfortable with how I looked, but I didn't know how to get past it.

Then I went off to school.  My freshman 15...well let's just say it was the freshman 30 almost 40.  I remember wearing sweatshirts all the time, and purposefully turning down the thermostat so that it would be cold enough to justify wearing the sweatshirt.  I felt like, if it was big and baggy, then no one would guess that what was making the sweatshirt bulge was really my stomach. 

The end of my sophomore year I came home and the worst had happened.  My mom looked better than me.

I decided to change right then and there, and that summer I lost 20 lbs.  Oh man it was tough.  I had to wake up really early to have it be cool enough to exercise, and I remember telling people all the time, "No thanks, I'm not hungry," when they offered me something like cake or cookies.  It's hard to admit that you need to diet.  I felt like I had reached a certain point where I didn't really see just how big I was. 

The weight started coming off and my confidence started going up, excpet I HATED it when people would ask me if I'd lost weight.  I felt like it was them saying, "Oh good, you're finally starting to lose weight, because you needed to."  I remember standing on the scale and I was the weight that I was in high school and it made me so happy! (which is ironic because back in high school I hated that weight). 

After Aaron and I got married, I started to put it back on again.  Not too much, but I was back up to 170.  And then...I got pregnant. 

Aaron and I had been talking about having a baby and I was terrified.  Not of being pregnant, but of the inevitable weight gain.  I saw the 200's looming in my future.  I could picture myself just eating and eating and eating.

But I didn't.  Food lost all appeal to me while I was pregnant, and for some reason, I didn't gain any weigtht.  In fact, I weighed 3 lbs less when I was about to give birth in the hospital than when I was very first pregnant.  I thank Aaron for that.  He has such a good attitude about food.  Food is not his life (like it was mine), it's there to keep us alive.  He eats when he's hungry and stops when he's full.  Amazing concept, and one that I knew, but had never really implemented.  Pregnancy put me so much in tune with my body that I was able to stop when I got full, and not feel deprived.  If I wasn't hungry, I didn't eat. 

After I had Cade, 20 lbs fell right off in about 3 days.  I've lost another 5 in the past 4 months.  I'm down to 140 (which at 5'9" puts my BMI from 27.8 at my heaviest to 20.7) which is less than the weight on my driver's license.  And I'm happy with myself.  I look in the mirror and feel beautiful.  I don't feel like a fat slob standing next to my husband and sisters. 


And I got told I was skinny today.



P.S. Cade rolled over for the first time yesterday.  He cheats.  He has to push off from the bars of his crib to roll over, but hey, he did it on his own.  I'm counting it. 

So This Is What It Feels Like

I remember in 5th grade going through D.A.R.E. and hearing Office Kruse tell us that people who snort crack & cocaine (is there a difference, I'm not sure) lose the lining in their nose that separates the nostrils.

I'm cleaning the oven right now, and my nose is burning.

I would check to make sure that the lining is still there, but that's kind of gross.

It Really Is the Simple Things

Cade and I went outside today to enjoy Mother Nature.  He likes to look up at the grass and I'm trying to not be so pasty white the next time I see my lifeguard sisters. 

He was laying on the grass, trying unsuccessfully to convince his ball to shrink to a size small enough to fit into his mouth, and I was reading Charlotte's Web out loud to him.  As lame as that sounds, it was really fun.

Life really is about all the little things--like the fact that every time I give Cade a bath he pees in the water, not once, but twice, or listening to Aaron tell me about his day at work, or trying a new recipe and having it actually work out.  I don't care so much about big and glamorous things, in fact, for our dates, Aaron and I almost always do dinner & a movie or game at home. 

I've been trying to have Cade work on rolling over (esp after hearing about other babies successes), but he has learned that all he has to do is grab the blanket that he's laying on and the toy magically moves closer.  No effort or moving required.


Love it.

Things I learned Today

Waiting to make dinner until you're starving is never a good thing.

You may just eat 4 chocolate chip cookies while waiting for the spaghetti noodles to cook.


Maybe 5

My Husband's Secret Life

So, I'm in charge of my husband's facebook {he got one because he needed to get addresses to send out wedding invitations and that was the easiest way.  After our wedding, I don't think he's logged in once} Kind of like his secretary.  I screen friend requests {for some reason, he always gets the craziest people request to be his friend} occassionally respond to legitimate friends--while trying to sound like a boy, change his profile pictures, things like that.

Apparently I'm not doing a good enough job screening out the crazies. 

I was checking his facebook today, and this is the message I found

"heyy i was just looking thru profiles and came across your's, and i must admit you're insanely cute. you know I think you should talk to me on msn, my sn is Astarte.Farnham86@yahoo.com.




oh btw im not talking 2 ppl I don't know so just say its Aaron from facebook if u end up messaging me, thx!"
 
 
 
I'm thinking of banishing him to the couch :D

And I'm really tempted to message this girl and tell her what's what yo.  The funny thing is, I'm in his profile picture, along with our baby.  What's this girl thinking?

Bragging

I make beautiful babies.


That is all...

Love his blue eyes

My personal favorite

Okay, I guess Aaron helped some

Back to School

Because we're poor, married, and have a baby, Aaron has more money that he needs from his Pell Grant to cover tuition and books.  It's weird, but I really miss going to class, or having something to study and learn.

So, I'm going to be taking an online class from BYU's Independent Study. 

My only problem is, there's so many to choose from.  And I get to choose.

I don't have to take a class because it's required for my major. 

Nope

This one is just for fun.

Wow.

As a sidenote, I was reading my friend Anna's blog and came across these, and they were so cute that I had to share. 

Another sidenote, I love my family.  They are everything I want and more.  I'm glad that I get to be their mom and wife. 

That is all.