Wishing and hoping

Do you know any mythical creatures that grant you a new wardrobe when Spring finally decides to poke its head around Boise? Maybe the Easter Bunny?

No, he's obviously not concerned with fashion.

Lately, I can't stop drooling over the idea of a new wardrobe. Maybe it's because my body has comfortably settled into its non-pregnant state, but my pre-pregnancy clothes didn't get the memo. They're a bit stretched out and overworked. I got a new outfit for Christmas that I think I have worn about twice a week since then. It is also starting to look overworked at this point.

So I keep dreaming that maybe -- just maybe -- something like this will show up at my house when the sun starts shining.

(Maybe I will be able to tie a big knot on my head like this, too.)

But then again, maybe not.

in short

any idea why i sound like shakira when i sing along to this?

probably for the same reason i am terrible at this blogging thing: too much time in the car.

i get to spend about six solid hours in transport tomorrow, but it will all be worth it: time with the auntie, time with the besties and a potential stop at ikea. oh utah, here we come!

working overtime

it's been a lot of hard work around here.

learning how to play by ourselves.

holding back the excitement at a bestie's wedding.

filling out endless paperwork to finally start a new job. (hooray, husband!)

growing up to be of average height (around 50th percentile), slightly above average weight (97th percentile) and stellar intelligence (demonstrated by head circumference that is just off the charts) at just four months.

gearing up to (hopefully) move for the seventh time during our three-and-a-half years of wedded bliss.

trying to roll over.

and finally doing it for the first time.

holding back the urge to post that picture of the baby's plumber's crack for almost two weeks.

and learning how to get rid of our old blog template that is apparently hardwired to this blog. you will notice that i need to do a lot more hard work around here to finish that one. ideas?!?

until then, we'll just keep chipping away at the important things. like getting dressed in the morning.

you'll be relieved to know

my body has been slowly bouncing back. don't get me wrong, i still have quite a bit of pregnancy weight to go, but my feet and face have returned to normal size. i'm quite glad as i had nearly forgotten what my ankles looked like.

the easter bunny did, in fact, visit our home. sure, we don't have space for anything in this house, but he somehow managed to squeeze his fluffy behind into the house to deliver penny's goods. however, the easter bunny was much lazier this year than i remember, because he brought the whole family's goodies in one basket. (i guess he didn't want to go digging through boxes in the basement to find everyone's basket...)

but don't worry. the little one was quite content to just play with her own bunny on easter morning.

we even got a photo of penelope enjoying easter ham in her easter dress with her easter papa.

should you need to take nail polish out of your mom's carpet after you indulge yourself with a home-grown pedicure during general conference, i have the answer: shaving cream. i kid you not. it worked like a charm. however, perhaps the best way to ensure your carpets are nail-polish-free is to check the lid of the bottle before moving it, thereby preventing spills in the first place. you know, the best defense is a good offense.

(see above foot photo for reference on the color of aforementioned nail polish)

penelope was blessed in church last week. i have tried to write about seven posts about that wonderful experience, but they have all been a bit too personal/emotional. i mean, with a little face and spirit this beautiful in our home, can you really blame me for getting choked up? so, i will try to keep the wonderful feelings from that day in a more private place and share a photo instead.

i am going back to work in eight days. if you are, in fact, relieved to know this, please let me know how we can somehow swap our emotions. at first, i was thrilled to have something to do every day and a reason to shower regularly. but now that i have considered the fact that penelope will be going somewhere else, and i will be missing every detail of her life, i am terrified and anxiety-ridden at the thought of work. how does one cope with this?

until i figure it out, i'll be relieved that i have such a blissful life for today.

merry unbirthday, penelope!

the littlest member of our family turned one month old this week. (i can't believe it!)

she wanted to share some of her favorite things about her life with everyone.

like her stylish wardrobe.

and bath time.

and quality nap time with daddy.

(for your sake, her two all-time favorite activities are not pictured: nursing and pooping.)

the end.

marriage scene

setting: jones home, 9:40 p.m. by lamplight, mr. jones is cutting some excess athletic tape holding one of the missus's medical devices onto her unreachable back. both characters are obviously fatigued -- the wife from a day of being enormously pregnant, the husband from a day of lectures, labs (which frequently involve weird procedures on rats) and bus-ride commuting. the process is slow-going, and the mister has intense concentration wielding nose hair trimmers closer to his wife's skin than she is comfortable.

missus: be careful. you're going to snip me.

mister: i'm not going to snip you.

missus: well, could you watch it? you're taking a long time and making me nervous.

(period of silence)

missus: (obviously getting increasingly exhausted) seriously, be careful!

mister: honey, i am not going to snip you. PLEASE, (making grandiose gesture with both arms) these hands have removed rat uteruses.

(hysterical laughter ensues.)

end scene.

feminine taming of the boo

ever wonder what happened to all that knowledge women during the victorian period must have done something with? (other than gossiping and setting up fortuitous marriages, of course.)

i just discovered it: embroidery. i mentioned my passing interest in embroidery to my mother in law, who just happened to have a copy of the complete encyclopedia of stitchery that she has given me on loan. i have decided i am going to give it a try. i tell you only because i know you will hold this confession in the strictest confidence. and you (hopefully) won't laugh at me. and you will hold me accountable to actually make something.

and because patterns like these little guys make me really excited.

pattern found here.

things bright and beautiful

our weekend and warm wishes

(and for your viewing pleasure, one of my favorite television Halloween moments)

good night, moon

it's 9:36 p.m. and i am ready for bed.

just plain tuckered out. but really, with so much excitement, how could you blame me?

what excitement? (you say)

oh, you know, hoping i can figure out how to be one of these little guys for halloween,

it's an entire guild dedicated to lollipops!

learning that the little one likes online shoe shopping (for her, of course),

planning to celebrate the completion of another test for the devoted pharmacy student tomorrow evening,

knowing jonesy doesn't have another test for more than a week (it's a miracle!),

and hoping that the husband will take me somewhere cheesy and fall-themed this weekend.

aren't you exhausted just thinking about it all? i know i am. i think it's time we all turn in.

like an old sock

"what if they made a t-shirt that had, like, bruce lee? and bruce lee's, like, dad and grandpa? and, like his son? i would totally buy that shirt," the sales associate told him three years ago.

and though it isn't bruce lee and his entire family tree, he, like, bought it.

and now she, like, wears it. because she can. and it fits around the growing middle.