36 weeks!

Wow, yesterday I had my 36 week doctor appointment. I can't believe I have four weeks left! I'm dilated 1 cm and 50% effaced. My doctor asked if I want to be induced early, but I declined. As uncomfortable as I am, I'm in no hurry this time! I'm pretty scared to have two kids, but the other night I did start feeling excited thinking about the delivery. There's nothing like seeing your tiny baby for the first time and holding her in your arms.

I'm also worried about how Ada is going to handle a little sister. My little sister Emily is in town right now with her baby, Sally. Ada has always been a little weird around Sally and doesn't seem to care about her. She also gets really possessive and grabby, and extra sensitive. She's used to getting all the attention. Hopefully she'll get used to things soon.

Ada hasn't been sleeping too well lately. We're not sure what's wrong, because normally she's a great sleeper. It hasn't been too bad, but doesn't want to go to bed and sometimes we find her lying there awake when we thought she'd been asleep for a while. I can definitely see a link between a lack of sleep and her behavior. Luckily, she was a really good girl all day Wednesday. We went shopping with Morgan, and at night met Tyler's family at The Cheesecake Factory for Cheryce's 30th birthday. We didn't get out of there until after 9:00, but Ada was so good the whole time. We got cheesecake to go, and my Godiva chocolate cheesecake was divine! Besides that, not much has been going on this week, except that Tyler and I went back to RC Willey and purchased a washer and dryer. I'm so excited! Laundry will seem so easy once I have my own set.

Have or Have Not

We saw this on Ben and Jenn Iverson's blog earlier today and thought that it would be fun to do for ourselves. This is a list of 200 things that we have or have not done. If you want to copy and do this yourself, you can just bold the items you have done. Since there are two of us, we're color-coding. Here's the key:

Pink -- Alison has done it
Blue -- Tyler has done it
Green -- We have both done it
Black -- Neither of us have done it

Let's get started:
200 Haves and Have Nots!
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run (I was 6" short of hitting a grand slam - It's true, I swear)
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales (See this post)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone skydiving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (I have less than 100 pages to go!)
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name (well, just my last name!)
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream (Once we close on our house at least)
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring (I wore a sweet mood watch)
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant (I rode a camel in Russia)
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (In mini-golf)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment (we're unsure on this one)
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books (More like 5 dozen)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma (both)
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a Neighbor Jane Payne newsletter

So little time. So much to do.

Buck wild

Tyler finally posted about our house. Check it out here. Last night we went to RC Willey to look at furniture, and I feel like we went buck wild! We bought a bedroom set, a mattress, and a dining table with chairs. The dining table won't be available until August, so I'll have to learn more patience waiting for that. The other stuff is set to be delivered a few days after we close. We've been talking about getting a king bed for a while to help with my sleep woes (not just the recent ones; I've had sleep troubles ever since I had Ada), so we went to look at mattresses. We were very surprised at how expensive they were, and I told Tyler to forget about it. But he convinced me that it was worth the money, so we got a good one and a king sized bedroom set to go along with it. I'm excited. Now we can put our queen bed in the bedroom downstairs, so if anyone wants to have a sleepover we can accommodate you! We still have plenty of furniture to buy, but it was fun to get started!

Never thought I'd say this

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my sleep. So you may be surprised, as I am, that I don't like going to bed anymore. For several nights in a row I get in bed and just lay there, unable to fall asleep. Plus, I have to get up a million times to pee. I think part of it is I have trouble getting comfortable and part is my mind is racing. There's so much happening in the near future for us that my mind is going crazy. Of course I'm tired and would love to be asleep, but if I'm just going to be laying there I may as well get up and read. Or blog.

What the...?

How is it already June? June 3rd, in fact! I can't believe how fast time flies. My due date is only 5 1/2 weeks away! I am not feeling ready. I've been afraid for some reason that I'll have this baby early when I'm not expecting it. The other day we went to IKEA and I was totally beat afterwards. My lower back was killing me, and I was telling Tyler it could be preterm labor. Luckily all I needed was a nap and things were fine. For the longest time I didn't really feel like I was pregnant. For the last little while I've not wanted to be pregnant anymore, but I'm definitely not ready to have another child to care for! I've been feeling achy and uncomfortable for a while now, and I'm starting to realize how little time I have left. I've talked to several friends about pregnancy, and everyone seems to have their own struggles. Some struggle with the pregnancy, some with the delivery. My biggest struggle is actually bringing a baby home and taking care of it. With Ada, I hardly got out at the beginning and had trouble getting back into the swing of things. I'm interested to see how things will go with two kids. I hear it's not too bad, but we'll see! At least we'll be in a new house with lots of space. We should be moved in before the baby is born. If this is news to anyone, Tyler will soon be posting about it, so keep checking his blog!

The long-awaited view

Finally, video of the view from my sister's apartment. Anyone jealous?

My poor baby

About a week and a half ago, we were outside at a court barbecue and Ada climbed onto a little bike that's been sitting out in the court for months. She doesn't know how to ride it, she just likes to sit. Well, she went to step off and her foot got caught. She face planted onto the cement and of course was not a happy girl. Her face was all scraped up and she was bleeding underneath her nose. So sad! It's probably the worst injury she's ever had. For about a week she looked like a poor abused child with scabs on her face, but she's now looking much better. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the best we have.

On a happier note, Ada has been saying so many funny things lately. She makes Tyler and me laugh almost every day. Here are a few examples:

• In Chicago, she started walking around saying, "DA-ddy, where ARE you?" After a while she'd ask where the rest of us were, and then started wondering about things like buses and cars. It was so cute how she said it.
• The other day she walked up to me with a toy turtle in her hand and said, "What does a turtle say?" Good question, since we've never taught her that one. She's starting to ask so many questions!
• I was cooking bacon last night and she said, "What's that noise?" I told her it was the microwave, and she said, "What's a microwave?"
• On Sunday at church, Tyler took Ada's binkie out of her mouth and she looked at him and said, "What's the big idea?" Who knows where she got that one!
• She has three stuffed Elmos (all different sizes) and was carrying them all around this morning. At first she was saying, "I got three Elmos!" and then she started saying, "Too many Elmos!" That's for sure! When I put her in her chair to eat breakfast, she said, "Too many Elmos sit by Ada!"
• Tonight she was playing with some Mickey Mouse stickers that came in the mail. She put a few on the bottom of her foot and said, "That's so much better!"

As you can tell, she's very smart and very entertaining. We just love watching her learn!

Recurring Dreams

Last night I had another recurring dream. Well, I guess the dreams themselves aren't recurring because they're all different, but I have dreams with three recurring themes. The most common theme and the one that appeared in my dream last night is bears. Ever since I can remember I've had dreams with bears in them. Apparently I used to scream to my mom that there was a bear in my room. I still have dreams about bears, and I'm therefore terrified of them. I hope it's not foreshadowing that I'll be attacked by a bear someday!

The other two themes have probably started since I've been married. The first is that I'm stuck in a huge building and I can't find my way out. I'm either in a huge house, school, hotel, etc. and I'm walking forever and can't get out. The other is that I'm in my last semester of college and I ditch most of my classes and then realize that I have a final that I didn't study for and will probably fail the class and not be able to graduate. It really gets my heart beating! Does anyone out there know how to interpret dreams?

Back from the dead

I haven't posted in ages, but it's all because we took a lovely 1 1/2 week vacation to Chicago and Nauvoo. We had such a great time! My sister Angie is a lawyer in Chicago. She works for a huge law firm that's in the second tallest building in the city. She & her husband Hyrum live on the top floor of a 54-story building that is right next to Lake Michigan. I've always heard they have an amazing view, but I was seriously blown away when I saw it myself. The outside walls are just windows, and when you walk in all you can see is water. It is awesome! They were so nice and hospitable. They are both great cooks and made lots of delicious meals and desserts. They, along with Tyler, helped make Mother's Day a nice, relaxing day by cooking and letting me relax. We didn't get to spend a ton of time with them since they had to work (and Hyrum had to fly to Utah for about four days), but it was so great to see them and hang out with them. I'm sorry to say that we didn't take any pictures with them. I tried to get one of the "curly girls" (Angie's the only one in either family with curly hair), but Ada wouldn't cooperate. But she loved them and loved their place! It has a swimming pool and play room that Ada couldn't get enough of.

I feel like we did a lot of stuff there, but there's still so much that we didn't do. We skipped out on most of the museums (I would have loved to visit the art museum) because of Ada, but we got to see lots of cool things. I won't go into too much detail because Tyler will be posting somewhat of a travel log soon, but I have to say that I love that city. It's clean, and there are tulips planted almost everywhere! There are so many things to do and so many huge buildings. There's a nice mix of new and old. The old buildings have some amazing architecture. It was easy to get around. I probably did too much walking since they live in walking distance of so many places, but we were also able to take the train and bus (and a cab). One of my favorite things was seeing Wicked. We got lucky by having my name drawn for tickets, so we spent $25 each to sit on the front row! It was awesome. I had fun doing a little shopping, eating out, and going to a White Sox game. I would definitely go back there!

After spending eight or so days in Chicago, we rented a car and drove to Nauvoo. I'd never been there, so I was pretty excited. Tyler had, but had never seen the temple. We could have spent a lot more time there too. We went in some of the houses and buildings, but Ada didn't last too long. She did love the children's area where she could play with pioneer toys and games. They dressed her in a pioneer bonnet and skirt, and she had a blast! It was a struggle getting her out of there. We drove to Carthage and took turns going through the tour while Ada slept in the car. I'm really glad we went there. I loved Nauvoo and the amazing temple. I wish we could have gone inside. Hopefully we'll get to go back someday.

Overall, Ada behaved very well. The one big exception was the plane ride there. We made the mistake of giving her Benadryl, so she got tired but wouldn't go to sleep. That meant she was not a happy girl. She was good about half the time, but the other half she was screaming and inconsolable. Luckily, everybody on the plane seemed really nice and understanding. She was really good in Illinois except that she wouldn't go to bed earlier than like 11:00 and woke up early every day. But she was a gem on the plane ride home, which made up for everything. We were so grateful for that! It was such a good trip and I miss being there. It's always sad to say goodbye to Angie because I never know when I'll see her again. But it was definitely worth every penny and we have tons of good memories (and pictures!).

Angie and Hyrum's building:

The delicious chocolate mousse pie that took all of us two days to eat:

Swimming in the pool:

Worn out after the Lincoln Park Zoo (which is better than Hogle and FREE!):

Pretty tulips:

"The Bean" at Millennium Park:

Buckingham Fountain:

On the banks of the Mississippi:

Little pioneer girl:

Before the oxen ride:

The beautiful temple:

The graves of Hyrum, Joseph, and Emma:

In front of Carthage Jail:

Mr. Graduate

Tyler graduated from the U two weeks ago today! We left on vacation right after, so I'm just now getting around to posting about it. We decided to pawn Ada off on Tyler's sister Cheryce, so we didn't have to worry about her all day. I wish we could have gotten a picture with her and Tyler though. We ate dinner with some family members and it was a great day. Tyler and I still can't believe it's all over.

Can I just say how amazing Tyler is? Electrical Engineering is one of the hardest and most time-consuming majors for undergrads, and he was able to graduate with his masters in five years! It takes most people that long just to get a bachelors degree, since there are so many classes and they have to retake some of them to get better grades. Tyler was able to pass every class without any problems and get good grades, all while working part-time and dealing with Ada and me. I'm so proud of him and all his accomplishments. I'm so glad he's always had direction in his life, and now has a great job that he loves. Next step: house hunting!