Day 14 - Switcheroo

Day 14 - a photo of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

There are a lot of people whose lives seem fascinating to me. People whose lives are full of glamor and excitement, a never ending list of places they've been and things they've done. People who I'd love to be for a day. Oprah, my mom, significant people from history, Darlene (the lady who used to live above me and stomped around her apartment all day long...I'm just curious - what was she actually doing?), and Tommy to name a few.

But when it really comes down to it, I'm convinced that Jessica's life is the one I secretly wish I had. She has one beautiful child (and one on the way) a doting husband (fresh flowers every week), an adorable shower curtain to take baby bump photos in front of, she enjoys running (what would it be like to crave a "quick 7 mile run"?), travels the world, has an super-cool grown-up job and a degree. She eats at fancy restaurants with her best friends and family, she walks around downtown because she lives close enough and spends summer weekends at the farmer's market and shopping at outdoor malls. Also she is drop dead gorgeous. Always.

I get that blogs are mostly about highlights of people's lives, and I'm almost convinced she has a bad day every now and again, but to me her life looks perfect. Really. It does. And right now my life could use a little more perfection.

But here's the thing, I don't actually own any photos of her because I'm really just a bit of a stalker. So I've done the ultimate stalker thing. I stole a family photo from her blog and am posting it here. Creepy? Yes.* Flattering? I hope. At least enough to balance out the creepy.



I'm curious, who would you switch with?

(Sorry Jess, if you're freaked out let me know and I'll take it down.)

Some things you should know about Tommy

You know how you can check your stats to see what people are searching for when they wind up here? The most googled phrase that leads people to this blog is "Tommy Two Scoops". I think I might start calling him that. Because I like it just that much. Tommy Two Scoops. (poor boy....) Also a lot of people looking for a floating uterus wind up here. Sorry friends, it wasn't actually floating.

Also: Hello readers in South Korea and Denmark!

Now, on to the point of this post. Tommy. Tommy Two Scoops. (say it like "Bond. James Bond." and be glad I'm not calling him "Scoops, Tommy Two Scoops" because that would be worse.)

One of Tommy's new favorite games is:
Mom: "Who's the smartest boy"
Tommy: energetically slaps hand to chest, lifts his chin up and flashes that cheeser grin.
Mom: "meeee!!!!"
repeat with the funniest, handsomest, gigglin'-est boys.

He also has taken a liking to emptying the bucket, and putting it over his head. Then he walks around until he runs into something and takes the bucket off his head and fake-laughs. "ha ha ha ha" he says.

I'm calling his first real word "duck". He has this ginormous duck (thanks Misty!) which he loves, and when I say "where's the duck" he turns around in a circle until he can see it. Then he beelines for it saying "duh! duh! duh!" all the way. He also points out the ducks in books, the rubber ducky in the bathtub and if anybody quacks, he responds with "duh! duh! duh!"

He "reads" his first words book. He opens the book, sees the picture and signs what it is. Then I tell him how smart he is.

Also, he's starting to look more like a Fugal every day.

Sickest baby in the West. See those eyes? Ouch.

Handsome isn't he?

Day 13 - Bag Lady

Day 13 - A description of what's currently in your handbag, purse, diaper bag:

I give you My Purse:

The contents of my purse is pretty standard, and rarely changes.

Camera - because my life is totally that photo-worthy.

The man wallet. Yes, I have the man-wallet. Because I can't fit a lady-wallet in my purse. But I have a beautiful leather one that I'll use as soon as I graduate to an old-lady bag.

Hand sanitizer and lotion are essentials. Because my life is totally that gross (hand sanitizer) and dry (lotion). But to be honest these haven't needed to be replaced in more than a year, so....probably not really as essential as I think they are.

Toiletries - I always have a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, tweezers, mascara, nail file, nail clippers, a bobby pin, and a twistie because they are just the kind of emergency items that a girl's gotta have. Also if I ever get stranded on an island, I feel confident that these items will get me off (if Josh is around).
Also, apparently I thought I needed an emergency lipstick, but I've never used it. So I just threw it away.

The mirror is for contact emergencies. But I don't have contacts. So...mostly it's a toy for Tommy.
The single wet wipe does get used and replaced on a relatively regular basis.

Also there is an assortment of pens, gum wrappers, coins and a movie stub.

The diaper bag is much more fun. In addition to diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for Bubbah (accompanied by bathing supplies), and snacks "for Bubbah"; I always pack a book or two for him, one for me (Miss Julia today), a ball, stacking cups, a truck, a train, a stuffed creature (there are many to choose from) and a deck of cards.

If I got stranded on an island with the diaper bag I won't be bored. At not least long enough for Josh to use the bobby pin and tweezers to get me off the island.

Day 12 - OCD

Day 12 - Something you are OCD about.

As soon as I read this I thought "that'll be easy since I'm a total nutcase!"

But then I looked around the disaster that is my house, and I realized that I can't actually claim to be really OCD about much of anything.

Stuff bugs me, but not always enough to do something about it.

But, the thing that really REALLY bugs me is when stuff is open. I like stuff closed. I always close the cupboard doors as soon as I'm finished with them. I lower the seat on the toilet (before I flush). I put the lid pack on the peanut butter. I click the pen back in. I close the door until it latches. I like things closed.

spoon snob

A week ago at this time I was worried my child would never learn to eat using utensils. He never had, and if I set a spoon down in front of him, he rarely even picked it up. But if he did, he's smack himself in the head with  it. That's funny huh?

Now I just spent 10 minutes with Tommy sitting in his high chair boycotting his breakfast (banana chunks) because he wanted it on a spoon.

Since he wasn't eating the banana, I made some oatmeal, and tried to feed it to him, but he wouldn't let me. I put a glob of oatmeal on a spoon and left it on his tray and he picked it up and put it in his mouth like a pro.

Now we have two spoons and I fill them up and line them up and he eats and hands the spoon back to me for a refill.

And I just realized for the first time that he's probably right handed. He's never been handed before.

Speaking of growing up, did you notice when his feet started dangling past the seat of the chair? Me neither - but they certainly do now.

Rocking

Bubbah's sick today. Sniffling sneezing coughing sick. Poor baby-sweetheart sounds miserable.

So I sit here with the baby monitor on. That way I can tell if he actually loses a lung to the coughing.

And since he's quietly moaning himself to sleep in his room, I'm sitting in my office chair rocking him to sleep.

Side to side, side to side, breathing as steadily as I know how (I'd hate to wake him with my irregular breathing) and realizing every now and again that he isn't actually in my arms.

I think this "mom" thing is really becoming instinct.

Day 11 - Sad Pictures

Day 11 - A picture that makes you angry/sad. 

This picture makes me sad because of what I looked like. That is one very large lady. I'm still very large, but I'm better than I was. 

Ryann and I are getting ready to go camping in 2008.

This one makes me sad because check out how tan I was!!! Where did that go?!?!?!

This is me camping last summer (2010).

Remember when the sun came out for more then 30 seconds at a time? Remember when you could leave your house without putting shoes on? Remember WAY back in the days that you would get into the water to cool off instead of warm up? Remember the summertime? I never would have thought I'd miss the blistering heat and the constant sweating - but I do. And the tan. Go ahead. Start the chorus of "I told you so" I'll be singing it back to you in September anyway.

cheap thrills

Josh had a work meeting he stayed home for on Wednesday morning. Tommy was about to go down for a nap, so he (Josh) said the magic phrase. "Would it help if I stay home with sleeping-Tommy and you go to the grocery store?"

I jumped up from my computer and ran into the bathroom to get ready before he changed his mind.

While I walked down the laundry detergent aisle taking my time smelling all the kinds of soap, I realized exactly what my life has become.

The thrill of my week was grocery shopping by myself so I could smell laundry detergent. Seriously.

Later that day I picked crusty peas out of the carpet from dinner who knows how many days ago.

I used to joke that leaving my office job wouldn't be that big of an adjustment, I'd just be babysitting a different age of boy.

In the office I'd get excited for field trips where I got to see real plants instead of pictures of plants on my screen saver. I'd put stickers on papers so the men I supported knew where they were to sign. I stuffed envelopes and sorted mail. I helped people get their papers shredded. I typed things people said so other people would know they said it. I listened to people whine about "the smell on this floor". And I frequently took care of "we're out of toilet paper" emergencies.

At home I get excited for field trips to the grocery store. I put stickers on my baby's fingers because he giggles while trying to remove them. I open junk mail and help Tommy tear it to pieces. I write down the things he says (does) because someday he'll need to remember how cute he was. I listen to him whine, and do my own share of whining about "the smell in that room" and toilet paper emergencies are a daily occurrence in our home.

See? Not that different.

But never ever did I pick crusty peas out of the carpet at my office.

It's a bad sign.....

Josh got up, showered and left for school before I rolled my lazy butt out of bed. "So...that's how this day will be...." I thought to myself.

I had a relatively productive morning including some minor meltdowns between Tommy and me. I think today he wishes someone else was his mom....and while I can't say it out loud, I'm almost ready to agree with him.

It's now 11:23am and I'm sitting at my computer back in my pajama pants with a plate of nachos and roughly 7 hours of work to complete before Tommy wakes up in an hour. I'm entirely convinced that I've maxed out my productivity for the day. It's now 11:24am. Maxed. Out. Before noon.

I have no intention of getting anything real done for the rest of the day. I intend to have my very own tv marathon watching anything and everything I can get my hands on. I intend to eat cookie dough ice cream for lunch (maybe sprinkled with some blackberries) and ramen noodles for dinner. I intend to go to bed when Tommy does at 7 and maybe read a little more of my book when he wants to play in his room.

Why? Because I think I've fulfilled my daily productivity requirement. That's why. And all the un-done things around here can wait until the productive fairy comes and refills my tank.

Day 10 - Happy Day

Day 10 - A picture that makes you happy.

Christmas morning 2006

Thursday morning January 2011

Day 9 - The House

Day 9 - Your dream house (description or photo!)

Bottom line? I don't know. Because I think I'm not old enough, nor have I lived in enough places to know FOR SURE what my dream house looks like. The more places I live, the more opinions I get. But here are the pieces I do know for sure.

Blue Shag Carpet? Out. Correction. All shag carpet. Out.
Plumbed for a dishwasher.
Big windows? Yes. Lots of them. Across from each other so the air can flow through the house.
Big blinds? Yes. You're welcome.
Garage larger than my car? Crucial. Actually I just saw a house with 3 1-car-garages all connected. It was SWEEEET. And if Josh gets his way, we'd need all 3 of those 1-car-garages. I want a big garage just as bad as Josh does today.
Yard? I cannot live without it ever again. And wouldn't it be cool if your neighbors couldn't see into it? At this point I'm not even sure that exists, but it sure sounds nice.
Open floor plan - except for the front room. There must be a front room from which you cannot see my dirty dishes, laundry, or carpet. However, I must be able to see multiple rooms from the kitchen.
Bathrooms? More than 1.  I hate using other people's restrooms. Always have, always will. So every time we go somewhere I come home and race for the bathroom. But you can't run up the stairs very fast without uncrossing your legs, so usually Josh beats me to it and he plants his butt firmly on the seat swearing that he "has to go bad too!" (which is hogwash) and I am outta luck. This couple must have more that one bathroom. Period.


The rest of the stuff is gravy: jetted tub, room for a piano, back porch for barbecues, pond/tiny waterfall in the backyard, driving distance from Utah's mountains AND Oregon's beaches (maybe when we get a hovercar? or a private jet?), a pantry, solid surface countertops with a dropped-in sink, a fridge with an ice dispenser, shelves built into the garage, a food storage room, a closet big enough to take a nap in, enough bedrooms so nobody feels displaced, someplace worth having french doors out of my bedroom, a backyard big enough for badminton, a vegetable garden, mature trees, nice neighbors, good schools yadda yadda yadda.

What all of that looks like put together, I'm just not sure yet. But I did come back to this photo 5 different times from 5 different websites and clicked on the link every time thinking "that's a beautiful home".





And it is. Don't you think?

I just spent a solid 45 minutes looking at floor plans online. I lied I have a lot more opinions and I sincerely hope that some day we get to build our own house. Because they are all SO close to perfect that it's a shame to not do it yourself and have perfect. Right?

Day 8 - A Quote

A teeny tiny part of me wants to put a quote like "gosh.....gimme my chapstick!" or "I say more dumb things before 9am than most people say all day." and then we can all laugh.

But the truth is that there are a whole lotta intelligent people out there who say some incredibly profound things and I really love those things too. The one that is currently on my bathroom mirror (and thereby trapped in my brain) is this:

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Teresa

Day 7 - Closest, Longest

Day 7 – A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.


There are a lot of reasons this one is hard. Would you like to hear some of those reasons? 


1. I haven't always been close to my family members. I wished we were best friends, but we weren't. While I love them now, it's not one of those "my whole life we've been best friends" situations. So no built-in family cop out. 
2. Although I always have good intentions of staying close to the people I love the most, somehow we just don't stay in touch. I have a lot of friends who I was certain I would grow old with. Old ladies on the front porch and all that....but miraculously the people I'm closest to today are people I didn't know more than 3 or 4 years ago. What does that say about me?
3. This question says "est" twice. And we all know "est" is code for "favorite". And we all know how I feel about "favorites".


So, I'm picking more than one. 


Closest friend? 

Josh. He knows me better than anybody ever has. He loves me better than anybody ever has. Plus who else would Jr.-High-waddle-dance in the living room with me? We fight, he's infuriating, I'm infuriating, we make each other crazy, but we always get over it. And that's just one reason I know he's my best friend. 

Also there is nobody else with whom I'd spend time in the Toilet Repair aisle during my honeymoon.

Longest friends?

L-R Kimber, me Platt

Platt & Kimber were my first friends who were girls. When I moved into their neighborhood in 4th or 5th grade I was thrilled to finally have some GIRLS my age. I still consider them friends (although we aren't as close as we were) because having lunch or catching up with them still sounds like fun.

Platt and I are on the Right

Remember my earlier post about how I did look good in overalls at one point in my life...OK?

L-R Kimber, Snowman, Me

Go ahead, covet my snow-suit and boots. I know you want to.


Are you better at keeping close friends for long periods of time than I am? Or do you use the family cop out? 

a prize!

Remember the last time I got an award? Tommy didn't want to miss all the excitement so he decided to grace us with his presence. So forgive me for being a little shy about accepting this one....but if this award results in a trip to the hospital, it won't be pretty.


But lookit! Diane gave me this:

Do you know Diane? Diane  reads excellent literature and understands and explains the gospel in a way that only experts do. Plus she just gave birth to her 8th beautiful child. She's a great person and I'm flattered that she picked me. 

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers,
Contact them and let them know they've received the award

1. Thanks Diane!

2. I am a wife and mother (and I love both jobs). I am a list-maker. I am a game-player (as in board games and card games). I am NOT a runner, but I do like to "run". I am usually sleepy. I am trying to be a better kinder person. I am a member of the LDS Church.

3. I'm choosing to define "recent" as "during the past 2 years". 
Lindsey Sometimes it freaks me out how much my life is like other people's. She's "other people".
Nancy One of my favorite blog-friends. Someday I'm gonna meet her and it will be a beautiful thing.
Mal You remember Mal.
Noelle She really is nice. Not just faking it. 
Aubrie Party planner extraordinaire. This woman has some mad skills in the kitchen and also happens to enjoy people's company. (Weird huh?) If you be good enough friends with her for long enough, you might be invited to a theme party.
Jess She's one of the bravest people I know. Zumba anyone?
Shalee She's a writer. A real one. That means her blog is fun to read because it's well written.
Jess She's friends with everyone. Our high school class doesn't need to have a reunion because she has links to all of us on her blog. Coolest chick in the west. 
Stick Stick and I go WAY back - and miraculously she doesn't hate my guts. Plus she takes some incredible photos of her own family. If I could hire someone to follow me around catching memories it would be her. She's gifted.
Jill She served in Josh's same mission and married Josh's favorite companion of all time. She and Erb have a beautiful new baby girl and are some of my new favorite friends.
Carrie Her girls are some of the most beautiful I've ever known.
Ashlie Her kid says the funniest things I've ever heard. And she always shares the laughs. Plus she has a style.  I can see something someone else is wearing and say "That looks like Ashlie!"
Stephanie She always reminds me that being married is fun. She's kind and loving and genuine and I really like that about her.
Emily is the kind of woman I wish I was. All the way around. She's polite but not fake. She's beautiful and intelligent and driven and loving and attentive and appropriate ALL the time.
Aundrea You might know her cuz she says stuff here. :) Sometimes you meet people in your life and you know that you were meant to be sisters, but you accidentally landed in different families. So you're glad that your lives bring you together anyway.

Day 6 - Books

Day 6 - Your favorite book.

Huck Finn - A classic which has been my "favorite book" since high school. This book makes me laugh out loud and I simply love every part of it.


Mitford Series - I have a tiny old-lady crush on Father Tim. When Josh grows up, I hope he become a rector.


Anne of Green Gables - A bathtub book.


The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - There are a few lines from this book that are a permenant part of my vocabulary. ("Love to Little Johnny and more to you,") and I immediately fell in love with the entire society.


In a nutshell I love book which are "charming" and "delightful" just as much I love boys who are "sharp". It's the 80-year-old inside me.

Day 5 - TV

Day 4 - Your favorite television program.

I wonder how many times in 30 days I'll have to explain my hatred for favorites.....

Wanna know what I'm watching right now?

24

Obsessively. Whoever the idiot was that thought "we'll just tell 1 story a season instead of 24 stories a season - it's brilliant!" should be hung in town square. Because I don't have 24 hours/story! Yeesh. Also I can't stop watching. It's a physical impossibility.

How I Met Your Mother

I didn't just laugh out loud - I snort-laughed last night while watching this. But only in the most graceful way you know?

Bones

Yes, I have to close my eyes during all the icky parts - but I still can't seem to turn it off. So so great!

Santa Haters - it's genetic

Remember how Tommy didn't love Santa?

While I was looking for childhood photos for Day 4 I found this beauty. 

Amy meets Santa

Santa's beard certainly has become more curly and less flowy hasn't it? 

Day 4 - Baby Amy

Day 4 - A photo of you as a child

When I was a little girl my older siblings used to chant at me
Baby Amy, Baby Amy
What's underneath your nose?

To which I would proudly respond "My wips!" (lips)

See, I was adorable.

OK it's totally against the rules to put more than one - but remember? I'm cool. So breaking the rule doesn't bug me.
See?
Rebel.

This photo is meant to be taken at evidence that I did look good in overalls at one point in my life.

Preschool

When I saw this next picture I realized that Tommy does look like me. He does this non-smile thing that melts my heart, and I never in a million years would've guessed that I did that smile too. But I did. My mom's heart must be putty.

1st Grade

Dear Mom,
Thank you for accepting this as my school photo for the year and not requiring retakes for "a real smile".
Love,
Amy

Although my mom was not so into taking a million pictures of every little thing - I do have a few photos that were not school pictures.

My cousin, Gina, and I being dancers. I'm the chubby one on the left, Gina's the beautiful willowy elegant one on the right. Some girls get all the luck.

My first self-portrait. Little did I know I would become VERY good at the self-portrait.

You're gonna have to blow this one up to see me in it - but the better part is my daddy. Isn't he dashing? This might be my new favorite picture of him. One black dress sock on pulled up to mid-calf. One RED BYU sweatshirt (Whose idea was that? And how many of you want one?). And of course he's wearing the smile that must have won over my mom back before the dinosaurs. Who wouldn't fall in love with that smile? He melts my heart too. 

Christmas morning
I'm the tiny girl in the middle who is apparently trying to suffocate the cabbage patch doll.

In Style

He heard that "pants below the booty" is still the style.

The teenage years are gonna be awesome in this house.

Day 3: My Favorite Movie

Again with the favorites?

Well....

Honestly I can't even think of one movie I would dare call my favorite.

Well, except this one from last night.

And I'm certain it doesn't count as a movie - but unless you want an incredibly long list of 12-year-old girl movies and stupid comedy shows, you're gonna have to just live with that.

Also this is Tommy's favorite movie and has had him laughing that hard all morning.

Day 2: Songs I Love

Day 2: Your favorite song.

It's not fair to say "favorite". Especially not about kids or music or books.

So knowing that, here are a few songs I absolutely love. Love love LOVE. But they are not my favorites because I don't have any.


Yes, I know. Veggie Tales. But it's just so dang funny! Cucumber dancing around in a towel? Genius.

And most things by Mat Kearney make me smile. Because oooh....I just love him.


And if it's snowing (or July...whatever) this Christmas song by BNL.

And if I'm in a summertime, windows down, outdoor acoustic concert kind of mood, Jack Johnson fits the bill.


There's just so much good music and so little time to listen to it all. Meh, take a minute and listen, you're welcome.

Day 1

Day 1 - A recent photo of you.

You see plenty of photos of me. Almost always recent.

So I'll see that "recent", and raise it "current".

That's scary because I now have short hair and just got back from a jog.

Shield your eyes!

Eh, that actually wasn't as bad as I thought..... never mind, you can open them.

30 days (because 29 is a weird number...)

Dear Mal,

Who designs a 29 day blog plan? I realize it wasn't you - but doesn't that bug you a little bit? I'm adding Day 30 (From another friend's blog who is doing the same plan.) and will be bitterly disappointed if you don't do the last day too. :D 

Dear Readers, 

I have been challenged by Mal. (Have you met Mal? If not, you should go read her blog and then you can come back and thank me for introducing you to one of my uber-cool friends. You're welcome.) And I am on a quest to prove that "I'm cool." this year. ("I'm cool." should be said whilst shrugging shoulders, raising the hands slightly and cocking the head to one side as if to say - "I'm cool".) I think that accepting challenges contributes to the "I'm cool" I'm going for. Yes?


OK here's the challenge.

Day 1 – a recent photo of you

Day 2 – your favorite song

Day 3 – your favorite movie

Day 4 – a photo of you as a child

Day 5 – your favorite television program

Day 6 – your favorite book

Day 7 – a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 8 – your favorite quote

Day 9 – your dream house (description or photo!)

Day 10 – a photo that makes you happy

Day 11 – a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 12 – something you are OCD about

Day 13 – a description of what's currently in your handbag/purse/diaper bag!

Day 14 – a photo of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day

Day 15 – a photo of yourself and a new friend you met this year

Day 16 – a song that makes you cry

Day 17 – your favorite website

Day 18 – a photo of your favorite memory

Day 19 – a picture of somewhere you’d like to travel

Day 20 – a talent of yours

Day 21 – a hobby of yours

Day 22 – a photo of your wedding/future wedding plans

Day 23 – a photo of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 24 – a recipe

Day 25 – your worst habit

Day 26 – a photo of where you live

Day 27 – a photo of someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 28 – your hopes, dreams, plans for the next 365 days

Day 29 – a picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 30 - a photo of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past.

Also, (as with any good blog challenge) you tag other people to do it too because we feel less foolish if we're not alone. If your first name is Emily, Megan or Ashley (or Ashlie) consider yourself tagged!

Dear Ashley,

Remember how I never learned to do my hair? And remember how we thought I could handle it? We were half right.

See how cute I am?

But then there's this side....

And I can't get that wonky curling business on the left side of my face (in the photo...it's really my right side)  to do what is should, add one widows peak and I look exactly as frumpy as I always do. *sigh*

I wonder if I'll ever grow up.

Love,
Amy

PS I've had nothing but compliments since you did it - THANKS!

I'll help!

Believe it or not, Tommy is a fabulous helper with a lot of things.

He loves to load and unload the washer and dryer. (And then he closes the doors to the machines AND the doors to the closet!)

He always pulls the silverware out of the dishwasher and hands it to me to put away.

He fixes his own toys (while sitting on the toolbox).

He also likes to bring things to people.

But I think the thing he's best at helping with is giving loves.

Chillin'

During breakfast this morning Tommy started whining a bit, I told him to "chill man" and he did.

I laughed, and so did he.

We're just so funny around here!