The Power of Lists

Are you a list person?  For most of my life, I have NOT been a list person.  Not for groceries, chores, organization, or anything.  I remember that in college me and my roommates would often make trips to the grocery store together and they would all go out to the car with a grocery list in hand.  I never once made one because I preferred to just decide what to eat once I got to the store.  This never inconvenienced me or my roommates because I was done at the same time as everyone else.  

When I first got married, I was the same way.  Even though I usually had a slightly better idea of what we'd be eating for dinner for the next several nights, I still wouldn't make any type of grocery list.  I'd just go to the store with an idea in my head of what I needed and even though I did occasionally forget something, it usually turned out just fine.

Michael, however, is a HUGE list person.  I learned early on that if he is going to get something done, it needs to be written down.  When I would ask him to do something, (or a few things) he'd say, "Sure, make me a list and I'll get it all done ASAP."  I didn't understand why he couldn't just remember on his own (especially if it was just one thing!) but I definitely can't complain because if I make him a list, it always gets done.  We now have a whiteboard up near the computer that we use to make lists for Michael.  Most guys would hate having a list, but Michael actually likes it.

 And if he accidentally forgets ("forgets?") :) to get something done, I give him a very friendly reminder.  ;-)

I know, it's kind of obnoxious, but he thinks it's funny, and it usually does the trick.  ;-) 

Once Matthew was born, I discovered that it was soooo time to start making a grocery list.  I found myself distracted at the store and usually in a rush, and I started forgetting a lot more things that I needed.  There was also a lot more that I needed to buy since I started trying to get all my grocery shopping done for the week in one day.  So, I finally started making a grocery list.

And wow, making a grocery list is SO much better.  I really should have done it sooner....  which got me thinking a couple weeks ago that perhaps I should be making even more lists for myself  So last week I made myself a To-Do list and felt like I had one of the most productive weeks ever.  Even if I didn't get everything done, I at least got more done than I would have without it.  

I am converting to becoming a list person.... so this is my (random) shout-out to lists.  I highly recommend them!

Pregnancy #2

Since the secret's finally out, I really want to document some (very, very scattered- sorry!) thoughts on this pregnancy.  With Matthew I had an actual pregnancy journal and I love looking back at everything, so I want to make sure that I document this pregnancy as well.

 First of all, I was 100% sure that this baby was another boy.  More on this throughout the post, but I really was convinced that Matthew was going to have a little brother in January.  Oops.  ;-)

I found out about this pregnancy around the middle of May.  I didn't really think that I was pregnant, but I remember walking by the pregnancy tests at Target and my heart started pounding out of nowhere.  Weird, right?  So I bought one and took it the second I got home and what do ya know - it was positive!  I was ecstatic, and I'm pretty sure I did something embarrassing like dance around the apartment with Matthew.  Maybe not quite that embarrassing, but it was close.  I couldn't WAIT to tell Michael, who was at work.  Really.... I couldn't wait.  We had found out that I was pregnant with Matthew at the same time, so I never had to tell him about that pregnancy.  I had read a bunch of cute stories about wives who tell their husbands that they're pregnant in fun/creative ways, and I had thought that I wanted to do that with my subsequent pregnancies.  However, when it was time to tell him, I absolutely couldn't wait the 5 hours for him to come home!  WAY too long!  I was dying!  (I know, I'm incredibly impatient).  I wanted to be at least a tiny bit creative, so I grabbed a Sharpie and a cheap onesie that Matthew had never worn and sent him this via picture message with the caption: "I made a jersey for our baby."

Obviously, there was no effort whatsoever put into this "jersey."  My intention was for Michael to at first think I was talking about Matthew, but realize when he saw the writing on the onesie that I was actually pregnant with another baby.  My plan was a failure, which makes sense since it was a pretty terrible plan.  (Like I said, I didn't really try to think of anything creative - I was just dying to tell him and didn't really want to send a text that said, "Oh hey, I'm pregnant.")  :-)  Michael told me later that he was thinking things like, "Random.  And she knows I like #7 for sports jerseys - I wonder why she picked #2?"  Haha.  As I waited for a response that never came, I sent another text asking him if he had fainted.  That text did the trick - he finally understood!!!  He called me right away and me and Matthew met him for lunch an hour later.  He was thrilled as well.

I had an early ultrasound to determine my due date and although it was too early to know the gender, the ultrasound tech told us that she had a gut feeling that it was a boy.  I agreed with her.  She also gave us a few pictures, so we told our parents about the baby by sending them an email with this picture:

I definitely felt more sick and a lot more tired this pregnancy than I did when I was pregnant with Matthew, but I figured that was because I couldn't just lay down or take a nap whenever I wanted - I have a very busy toddler that likes to play and make all kinds of trouble.  I still think that that is why I was more sick and tired, although I can't know this for sure.  Maybe the rumors are true that you are slightly more sick/tired with girls?

Something very unique to this pregnancy (in comparison to my last pregnancy) was the horrible case of insomnia I picked up my first trimester.  No matter how tired I was, it would take me absolutely forever to fall asleep!!!  Very unusual for me.  And if I woke up during the night, (which I usually did at least once) it took forever to fall back to sleep.  Very frustrating, especially since Matthew had just started sleeping through the night a couple months before.  It has gotten better though, thank heavens!

My biggest cravings this pregnancy include hot wings, pizza, fruit, and steak.  Mmmm.  Michael loves my cravings - especially when I beg him to go get pizza.  There is really no need to be begging though.  If Michael (and Matthew) had his way, we'd eat pizza four nights a week.  Or more.  I didn't want much to do with candy my first trimester, but my love for sugar has (sadly?) come back.

Before I got pregnant I was worried that I wouldn't be quite as excited about all the little things that come with pregnancy since I had done it all before and it wouldn't be new.  I was wrong - woohoo!  I am still SO excited about every little thing, and can't wait to get my weekly updates from BabyCenter comparing the size of my baby to some food item. 

And before I talk about my 19 week ultrasound..... a quick side story:

There have been hardly any girls born on Michael's paternal side for several generations.  When I heard this a couple years ago, I think it might have put the idea into my head that I might not have any daughters.  I know that there being very few girls born doesn't mean that I won't have daughters, but still.  I really thought I'd have a bunch of boys.  And my "mother's intuition" was telling me that I was having a boy, so I really was sure that this baby was a boy.  I even referred to the baby as a "he" up until my 19 week ultrasound.  Talk about the worst mother's intuition ever!  Michael would always add a, "or she!!!!" whenever I would do this and I would just roll my eyes.  I guess Michael's intuition is better than mine is.  

I told Michael before our big ultrasound that we should play "Who Can Spot the Boy Parts First?"  during the exam.  He agreed.  We told the ultrasound tech what we were doing.  I kept thinking I saw boy parts but she would politely tell me that I was seeing the cord or something else.  She finally zoomed in on the area and sat back to watch us.  I said, "It's a boy!"  (Remind me to NEVER become an ultrasound tech).  Michael was silent.  We told the ultrasound tech to tell us and she said, "Umm, it's a girl."  I went into shock and asked her about 100 times if she was sure.  She just replied, "Yes.  I've been doing this for 20 years!"  It didn't take long for my shock to turn into excitement!  I chatted and chatted (mostly to myself) the rest of the ultrasound about all kinds of girl things and was totally giddy.  Michael was.... silent.  If you know Michael, this is odd for him.  He is usually the chatty one.  I looked at him closely and he definitely looked like he was about to throw up.  Haha.  He told me later that the room was spinning as he was thinking of how in the world he was supposed to raise a daughter.  He was scared because he thinks girls are way harder to take care of emotionally.  He also has no idea how he's going to deal with her boyfriends.  (I remind him that only a couple years ago HE was the boyfriend.  Times sure do change quickly).  :-)  Anyway, he has since gotten used to the idea and is super excited as well.

We told the world about the baby girl that night.  It was hard keeping the secret for that long but also fun to announce both the baby and the gender at the same time.  I'm convinced that people in my ward knew and were just too nice to say anything since I'm pretty sure that I've been showing since I was about 8 minutes pregnant.  Then again, nobody with a brain is going to ask if you are pregnant until you have a huge, obviously VERY pregnant belly... and I'm still a couple weeks away from that.

A lot of people talk about how close in age Matthew and this baby girl will be as if I haven't thought about it already.  Trust me, I've thought about it.  They will be 17 months apart.  And yes, I'm aware that it's going to be hard and a lot of work.  It definitely scares me sometimes.  However, I'm up for it and excited for the adventure.  And while I'm sure that we'll wait longer next time, I'm excited to have two kids so close together.

Well, that's it for now.  I took this belly picture earlier today.  (21 1/2 weeks!)  Yay for black being slimming, because this definitely makes me look way smaller than I am.  I am vain like that.

Labor Day Weekend

I have been dying to get to the beach all summer.  Finally, last weekend, we did!  We had a weekend full of fun activities and it went by way too quickly.

We started off our weekend in LA by going down to the beach with my parents and my brother.  The weather was so perfect.  Matthew was already loving the attention from his grandparents and all the new textures.  (sand, etc).  Even though he was exhausted, (he had woken up SUPER early for our morning flight) we all had a great time.

My brother gave Michael a short surfing lesson.... that was funny.  ;-)  In Michael's defense, the waves definitely weren't "beginner" waves that day.

 started out lookin pretty good...

 oops  :)

double oops

On Sunday we enjoyed a relaxing day, and on Monday we headed to the Fiesta Hermosa Fair.  It's full of vendors, free stuff, a band, and good food.  I've missed going the last several years so it was nice to be able to enjoy that again.  We also enjoyed some more beach time since the weather was so perfect.  That night, I made ornaments with my mom.  Mostly Christmas ones, but a Halloween one as well.  I think they turned out pretty cute!  I especially like the pearl one on the bottom left!  (time consuming, but oh so cute!)

The next morning Michael, Matthew, and I headed to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.  I'd heard of it but never actually been.  It was fun and really cool, and Matthew was in heaven exploring the place and trying to find a way into the fish tanks.  When it comes to sea life, Michael is afraid of jellyfish, I am afraid of spider crabs, (gross!) and Matthew is afraid of nothing... yet.

We finished off the day with a trip to the park, (SO nice to have beautiful weather that allowed Matthew to run around at a park for more than 3 minutes) and an early dinner before heading to the airport.  It made me sad to take Matthew away from all the fun he was having.....

..... and I don't think he was too thrilled to be leaving.  (this was taken at the airport)

Now we're just trying to get used to not having quite so many fun people around and Matthew is catching up on his sleep.  Thanks Mom and Dad for having us!