Rise and Shout (or Scream and Cry)

BYU vs. New Mexico State, Saturday, November 19, 2011.

Start Time: 8:15 p.m.
Mean Temp: 55 degrees

Final Score: 42-7.

It had been YEARS since either of us had been to a BYU Football game, so when our friends (thank you James & Michelle) offered us their tickets we were pretty darn excited!

We were hesitant at first and started listing reasons we should probably not go:

• Game starts at 8:15pm and Holland's bed time is 8:00pm
• It's supposed to be really cold!
• Parking might be a joke
• Traffic after the game might be crazy
• Will Holland be warm enough? (read: Will Brigitte be warm enough?)

Little did we know, the real reason to not go to the game would be: George Q. Cannon

Holland does not handle noise very well...or, really, at all. So, pretty much as soon as we got to our seats BYU scored, the crowd started clapping, yelling and singing, and then...the cannon went off! And that was the beginning of Holland and I watching the game from under the south end zone. She literally had a melt-down and cried until half-time when we left.

Two BYU students walked by and asked me if I would "please take this extra hot chocolate" off their hands. Uh...I think they actually bought it for me because they felt so bad for me. (Realistically, we could have left earlier than halftime, but come on - it's your first BYU game. Suck it up and enjoy it!)

Anyway, the hot chocolate episode kind of made me laugh, but at the same time I was really grateful. It also reminded me how much I love BYU and the students there (well, most of them). I mean, seriously, for the most part, as cheesy as they can be, BYU co-eds are really good people!

Don't worry though, I am not deterred from making sure this little Cougarette always bleeds blue!

 Seriously though...doesn't she look thrilled???

Happy Half, Holland!

Seriously...can you believe this little bundle of baby bliss is already celebrating her half-birthday?? I had a little chat with her about how important and fun it is to celebrate half-birthdays. Ya, she was pretty excited about all of my thoughts on the subject. And then, I think she just got a little bored of our talk...and the photo shoot.

 While Holland and I were waiting for Tyler to come in and take the pics, I was putting some of Holland's laundry away and Holland was just rolling around on the floor. But then, she decided to HELP me with the laundry project!

Yep. Fun times. It goes something like this: I open the drawer, put the clothes in and then close the drawer. I turn around to grab another stack and Holland promptly rolls over to the drawer, grabs the handle and pulls the drawer open again. This could probably keep her entertained for quite a while! (Certificate of Progress?)

Other notables about Holland from this past month:

• her hair is actually, slowly, starting to grow.
• not only did one tooth come in on Oct. 26, but another one broke through just today. there are now TWO teeth in that cute little mouth! (two bottom front teeth)
• took a bottle from me...and downed it! we were at Sheri's hanging out during Priesthood Session of Conference.
• eats rice cereal daily.
• tried her first pickle and french fry!
• loves to do the motor boat sound and thinks it's great when we move our finger up and down on her lips while she makes sounds. we think it's pretty hysterical as well.
• bounces constantly - therefore, we just had to purchase a Johny Jumper. (Tyler and I wish they had them for adults!)
• refuses to keep socks and/or shoes on. we like to time her to see how quickly she can pull them off.
• favorite toy is a almost-empty bag of frosted flakes. (who knew we really didn't need to purchase her real toys to play with?)
• sleeps in her crib.

Pearly White

Yes...I do mean a tooth!

Lately Holland LOVES to "talk." She is almost constantly making noise - babbling, laughing, blowing on her tongue, etc. It is so stinking cute! So we like to move our fingers across her lips while she's talking so that she makes funny noises. She thinks it is so great. And we, of course, think it is so funny! So today while doing this new little activity of ours, I stuck my finger in her mouth and felt her bottom gums. A tiny little razor (aka tooth!) completely surprised me.

I've been wondering lately if she is going to start teething soon. She was sick this past Thursday through Sunday and we thought it was a cold; maybe it was and maybe it was a sign of teething - who knows? Plus, she drools a lot and loves to chew on things. People keep commenting that she's probably teething. Huh? Really? She seems too young.

This led me to ask my mom when it was that I got my first tooth. About a year old! I then asked my sister when it was that her kids got their first teeth. Not until after they were one! Then I looked up Tyler's info in his completely detailed baby book. Four months! Seriously?

So here we are at T minus 2 days until her 6 month mark and this darn little tooth reared it's ugly head....er...precious head. I'll let you know once it is fully in if it is precious or not. I wonder how soon I'll be doing a post titled "Bottles Only!"

 

SICK BABY: Congested, runny nose, sneezing (more than normal) and itchy, watery eyes.

Thu., Oct. 20 - Sun., Oct. 23.

HAPPY BABY: One tooth finally broke through! Bottom front. 

Playing with her new favorite toy. Yep - a bag of cereal.

Wed. Oct. 26

The Face We Just Can't Get Enough Of

Conference Weekend

I love General Conference! It is always so refreshing and relaxing. I love spending time with the ones I love as I listen to inspiring talks and uplifting music. I love to copiously take notes as I feel inspiration flood my heart and mind. And, I love that I can do all of this in my PJs. L-O-V-E! To hear what I heard...and more...click here.

This past General Conference was my first as a mother and, well...it was definitely more difficult to sit and listen, but the bits and pieces that I did hear were inspired and the Spirit touched me. I know that I heard words that were meant for me to hear.

One thing that did not change:

The weekend was still spent in my PJs with the ones I love...

Tyler and Holland watching General Conference

P.S. During Priesthood Session, Holland and I went to hang out with Sheri and the twins. And...drum roll please...Holland took a bottle while we were there. Seriously, no complaints. She just downed it. Happy? Oh ya!!!

September Throwback

Just a few pics from September...

Bubble Bath in Gma's Tubby

Ahh....to be a kid again...

Swinging at the park at Salem Pond

All ready for church

Playing on the bed while Daddy tries to work!

I Had A Birthday...

...Shout Hooray! One year older and wiser too. Well, one year older. Not so sure about the 'wiser too' part.

I cannot believe that I am 39. Seriously? 39? Are you sure? Let me check my birth certificate. Yep. Thirty-Nine! Wow...are you shocked? I certainly am.

I love my birthday. That should come as no surprise to many of you. And this year, like many others, my birthday was perfect! This birthday taught me some new definitions of love.

Love = Breakfast in bed cooked by husband.
Love = A surprise lunch with my mom and sisters. Tina took a three hour flight here and a three hour flight home, just to spend a couple hours at lunch to celebrate my big day. We ate at Normandies and of course, we had to have dessert! Together, my mom, Tina and Cheryl pulled off a fabulous surprise! Mom even showered me with confetti. That made it officially a party...=)
Love = A Thai Massage! Tyler secretly set up an hour massage appointment for me. We pulled up, he handed me my stuff and said he'd be back in an hour. Heaven!
Love = Dinner with my two favorite people - Tyler and Holland.
Love = New speakers for my computer and a bag of Recees Peanut Butter Cups!
Love = A no napping baby (aka Holland was awake all day!) Her daddy said she was just so happy about my birthday she wanted to spend the ENTIRE day with me. And she did.

Love = Phone calls, texts and FB messages from family and friends. Some of them even sang!
Love = Dinner and new books to read from my mother- and father-in-law. (Friday night.)
Love = Little gifts dropped off on my doorstep - like the precious necklace below from my friend, Lesa Wells. We serve in the RS Presidency together. Seriously - how thoughtful!
Love = Lunch with Sheri - without any babies. It was nice...and it was weird...and it seemed totally normal at the same time. I have a GREAT bestie! (Friday lunch.)

If all of that isn't LOVE, I'm not sure I know what is! Thanks for making me feel special on my special day...