Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Wow.

It's almost been two months.

All I can say is school has pretty much sucked my free time dry.

As usual, I had a blog idea while I was falling asleep the other night, and of course I can't remember anything about it, except that I had a cool comparison of something in my life and "The Sound of Music". My days usually don't consist of dancing around on hilltops in clothes made from curtains, so I really have no idea what my comparison was. I guess it could have just been a dream...


Anyways...

Navi is growing like a weed and decided to take her first real steps (7) on Feb. 21, while Nate and I were away from her overnight for the first time. I almost started crying when I heard she did that. The little fart.

She is just over 10 months and those hesitant steps she's taking, will soon turn into walking any day now. I love watching her progression and all the things she can do, but it also blows my mind to think that 10 short months ago, she was a precious little newborn.

Some fun facts about our Navi baby (mostly for my journaling sake):

9 months - January 14, 2010

- 20 lbs. 4 0z. (80%) and 29 3/4 inches tall (95% and above)

- Loves eating any kind of baby food. She also loves rice cereal and baby oatmeal, peaches, pears, bananas, bagels, Gerber puffs, yogurt melts, cheerios, and her favorite - graham crackers.

- Still just has her 2 bottom teeth, but her top 2 are breaking through.

- She crawls all over and walks around the living room by holding on to the furniture.

- When someone says "no no" she shakes her head side to side.

- Claps her hands when she hears "yay" or "patty cake".

- LOVES Dora the Explorer and whenever she hears the first few notes of the opening song, she stops whatever she is doing and sways back and forward, or bounces to the music, smiles lots, and claps her hands.

10 months - February 14th, 2010

- Top middle 2 teeth are fully broken through and the 2 sides are breaking through.

- New foods she likes: cottage cheese, string cheese, olives, mashed potatoes, jello, and she LOVES goldfish crackers and go-gurts yogurt!

- Plays peek-a-b00 (even though she puts her hands on her cheeks instead of eyes) :), still loves patty cake and even "marks it with a N" (pointer finger to palm), and waves bye-bye.

- Walks all over with her lion walker and took her first steps by herself on Feb. 21 while Mom and Dad were gone for their anniversary.

- Says "Mama" and "Dada" and "uh oh" when she drops something.

- Loves carrying around her babies. You wouldn't think she could tell the difference, but she prefers one over the other. When one of her cousins takes the baby she throws a fit.

- Speaking of fits, she inherited the Wallentine "melt down" trait and is a professional pouter.

In other news:

Nate and I celebrated 4 YEARS on February 22.

The weather even broke tradition this year and the sun actually came out. First time since we got married. As part of our celebration, we were gift certificate fiends and used one that Nate's parents gave us for Christmas to stay here:


(Vegas Nights room is awesome) and then we used another gift card (they are VERY awesome gifters) and ate here:


YUM. I had been craving it for months. Oddly enough, it's the only Chinese I like. Weird.

Instead of a lovey-dovey paragraph of gooey-ness, I'll just post quite a few pictures of some of the good times we've had over the last 4 years. I sure do love my husband!










The best part of our 4 years by far!

Reflection

It's a new year and my blog deserves a new post.

However, unlike my new found motivation to workout, eat better, lose weight, etc. etc., blogging more often didn't quite make it's way onto my list. But I'm adding it now!

Before I completely move on to 2010, I feel it's only fair to recap on '09.

To quote one of my Dad's most often used sayings, "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" (although, his way of using this phrase was often followed by a tricky task assignment) Example being:

Dad: "So Laci, do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
Me at 13: "I want the bad news first." Getting the bad news over with first usually seems like a good idea. Right?

Tricky Dad smiling as he replies: "The bad news is, you get to wash the dirty clothes and fold the clean ones in the dryer...but the good news is, I already started the washer for you."

Fast forward 10 years and I'll spare the mind games. My reasoning still stands though. Bad news first.

Bad in '09:

- My first pregnancy went a week over due before I had to be induced.

Word to the wise, don't ever try and make an over due pregnant woman feel better. No matter what you say or how you say it, it won't work.

- Nate is still job hunting after graduating in May '09. Stupid economy. Stupid terrorists. I'm placing the blame on them for now.

- Our car got broken into while we lived in Texas. Stupid teenage boys who stole Nate's ipod and our ipod car converter.

- We had to sell our Equinox to save money. Again, stupid economy. Stupid no jobs in America.

- I "backed" into a guy while he was parked behind me in a parking lot. Stupid STUPID man for parking behind me when I couldn't see your piece-of-crap car, or it's tail lights when I "hit" you. The " quotations " are helping to express my anger when I didn't in fact "back" into him at all. I merely bumped his car while I was shifting into drive. Stupid man again for claiming you wouldn't file a report to our insurance without checking with us first. Stupid-er man for doing it anyway. I could go on if you can't already tell. So for my sanity's sake I'll stop now.

On to the GOOD:

- DUH!! Navi Sandra was born April 14th of '09 and those miserable 7 days of over due-ness were totally justified when I got to hold our sweet baby girl for the first time.

- Nate graduated!! What an accomplishment! And even though he hasn't found the perfect "grown up job" he still works so hard for our family at a job he doesn't love, so we can pay the bills. He's had a lot of interviews and hopefully a few more promising ones scheduled soon. It's hard to watch him get so far in the interview process, when in the end, the guys who have been laid off of other jobs with years of experience beat him out. (one last time - stupid economy!!)

- Simplifying our lives has taught me so many things and I consider this a very good thing. With situations like selling our car, staying in my in-law's basement, and cutting back on luxuries - A LOT, I've been forced to learn from them.
I've been reminded and refreshed on simple concepts like-

humility - admitting you can't is hard enough, but asking for help and also accepting it is also very hard.

patience - I've had many experiences with this one. Job searching and interviewing is obviously the biggest contributor.

gratitude - the most important by far. Firstly I'm so grateful for all of our parents. Nate's mom and dad have helped us IMMENSELY. Opening up their basement to us is just the beginning. My dad has also helped us and continues to help us daily. It is such a comfort knowing I can ask him for any kind of help and he won't even pause to think about it. He is such a great example. And I can't forget my mom. Even though I can't talk to her face to face, I feel like I ask her for advice when I'm thinking, "what would my mom do if she were here?"

And how can I go without mentioning my Heavenly Father. Even when I feel like things are bad and I'm telling myself, "it can only go up from here" I am quickly reminded of how blessed I am. Owning 1 car instead of 2 is a silly thing to feel picked on about. I have countless blessings to remind me how much I am loved.

Just a few include:
- my husband. period.
-my precious Navi baby. I don't know if I deserve such a happy perfect girl.
- as mentioned above, our families!
- a healthy body and I can achieve so many things because of it
- the opportunity of living in the greatest country, and state for the matter, in the world
- wonderful friends. As wonderful as my family is, some days are made by talking with a friend.

Thanks for the memories 2009!

Here's to 2010.

Some things to look forward to this year:
- My brother will be home from in mission in August! Wahoo!
- Nate decided to go back to school for his MBA. Since the job market is so slow, why not add to those student loans, eh? Or something like that.
- I decided to jump on the band wagon and go back to school as well. I have 2 years until I can graduate in Elementary Ed and after lots and lots of contemplation I decided I want to finish. Key word being WANT. Up until recently, I've felt like I have been going to school just to be "going to school". I had absolutely no direction and little desire. It's not going to be the easiest to graduate with Navi, but thanks to lots of helpful family members, I'm going to be able to finish!
-And cross your fingers for some success in the job department for Nate.

One Week!

I'm just another one of those new moms learning how fast time really does go by when they aren't in your stomach anymore. I can't believe we've had her a week already!

Navi's 3rd test for bilirubin. (spell?)
Early morning appointment after little sleep + a screaming baby after being pricked in the foot = Nate's face :)

First time in her swing

Clutching the binky for dear life after one of those awful sponge baths.

One week old and looking a little drowsy.

The stories are true - now that we have her we don't know what we'd do without her!

uno...dos...tres!

That's right, watching Dora with the nieces and nephews has taught me a few things. Somehow I skipped the Spanish requirements in high school but I did make it out with some basic counting skills. It comes in quite handy when I want to tell Cade how many months he's been gone too.

My knowledge of counting to 20 and being able to ask someone what color their house is (De que color is tu casa?) didn't do to much for me when Nate and I were able to go to Spain 3 1/2 years ago, however, I did come away with something to show from it:That's right, you probably already knew but we got engaged in Spain! Nate's parents had the trip planned and Nate invited me to come along. (after his friend Dave said no that is. What can I say Dave, you missed out on a proposal I guess!)
As you can imagine, I was a bit hesitant when he invited me seeing as we had only been dating for 3 or 4 months, and the trip was planned for another 4 months later. I was just hoping we didn't "break up" in the mean time because that would call for a very awkward vacation...

Those 4 months passed with no break ups, and his parents flew to Spain a week before us. His mom even wore my engagement ring on the trip over so I wouldn't see it! Nate and I had talked about getting married and had been "ring shopping" a time or two. I even joked with Nate on the way over that lots of people had told me they thought we'd get engaged. He slyly covered his tracks by laughing in my face and making me feel slightly dumb for even suggesting it. Romantic, I know. On our 2nd to last day in Spain I was totally convinced this was not going to be an engagement trip and had actually kind of forgotten about it. Little did I know, just about everyone else knew otherwise.

So being the romantic that he is, Nate proposed over a man-hole cover on the beach and the rest is history... Haha ok, I'll explain. The man-hole cover was actually a huge cement THING that stuck out of the sand about 6 or 7 feet. It had a little ledge all the way around it and we had noticed on one of our trips to the beach that people had climbed up it and placed all sorts of shells on the top of the cover. On our last night, I drug him down to the beach because I wanted to take some shells home for souvenirs. When I wasn't looking Nate climbed up on the cement ledge and placed my ring on top of the man-hole cover, then oh-so-cleverly suggested I should take some of the shells we'd seen on top the day before. With a little help from my cell phone light I was able to find a few souvenirs as well as a even better surprise!
It's 3 years later and my Spanish vocabulary hasn't grown much but my love for Nate definitely has!

So even though I'm a few days late, I want to wish Nate "Happy Anniversary!"
(It was was on the 22nd - which by the way, was overcast and gray as usual. See last year's anniversary post for clarification.)

Happy 3rd Nathan - te queiro mucho!!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

The last week of January was something I had been looking forward to for quite sometime. Now here I sit on February 1st, back at home and missing the 75 + degree weather of southern California. You see, Nate's parents gave all the kids and grandkids a sweet "SoCal" pass for Christmas and we spent a week in Newport Beach visiting all the tourist spots. (Disneyland, Seaworld, Universal Studios, and San Diego Zoo to be exact)

Even though "Expectant mothers should not ride" seemed to be the phrase of the trip, I'm such a Disney freak that just being there was still fun. We lived it up on the rides I was allowed on however, like Pirates, Buzz Lightyear, Finding Nemo, and Soarin' over California - my favorite!! I also made a great stroller slash baby sitter while the others took their turns.

Our trip to L.A. and surrounding areas was a double bonus because it is also where Nate served his mission. (Arcadia, CA) So he played tour guide while we visited the old stomping grounds.

Today when we flew into Salt Lake the air was a crisp 34 degree wake up call. Now, back at home, he's busy cramming for a test tomorrow and I'm dreading going back to work. Ahh, real life.

So here's our little vacay recap...and keep in mind I'm feeling especially chubby these days, from my face to my feet. So please try to look past the pudge. (9 weeks to go!)

And of course, I couldn't end this post without a shout-out to the in-laws...Thanks again Darrell and Marianne!!! It took lots of work (and money) to get the trip all planned and put together, we appreciate it and had lots of fun!

~*Also, the private plan is still on, so anyone still wanting to get in let me know. The count down is on.*~

Why Nate is Great: Part Deux-

*For the original "Why Nate is Great" post click here:* http://lacibuttars.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

During the summer my day begins after a good amount of sleeping in. I daresay if there were a competition of staying up far too late, and sleeping in way too long, I would take the prize. A sad confession, I realize. (my only justification is that it's summer and I'm more productive during the school year) After a long snooze I rouse to make Nate's sack lunch before he heads off to his daily work meeting and then continues to a 7-8 hour day of knocking doors. All the while, I try and keep myself busy by either shopping with friends or straightening the house.
Last week I spent more days then I'd feel comfortable admitting wandering around the mall, so today I knew I needed to do some serious cleaning. As I sat here at our rented, black, wooden table and scowled at the tower of dirty dishes in the sink; I was a bit discouraged to consider the long process that lay ahead of me. Scrubbing slimy plates that have sat slightly ignored for too many days, and attempting not to dry-heave (sorry to be so graphic) as gooey globs of garden salad slide down the garbage disposal, is not my idea of a good time. Long story short - I DESPISE doing dishes. Why don't we just rinse our bowls after slurping down cereal? Good question. But for reasons unknown, Nate and I just can't seem to keep on top of this specific household chore.
I was almost completely fed up with being the one who always succumbs to the soapy job. "Why can't Nate give me a break at least once?" I silently whined as I hot water seeped up the stainless steel sink. Just as I began to slide into self-pity, I snapped out just as quickly as I realized the contrast in my daily activities compared to Nate's.

Therefore the actual reason of this post - in good old fashioned David Letterman style,

THE TOP TEN REASONS
Why Nate is Great: Part Deux-

10. As mentioned above, he spends the vast majority of his day knocking doors.

9. He doesn't complain about the continually unoriginal sack lunches I make him everyday.
(a PB&J or turkey and cheese sandwich, yogurt, small bag of chips, Oreos 100 calorie pack, and a Gatorade)

8. He has 6 shirts to choose from throughout the whole summer. (There are only 5 in the pic because he's wearing one. I DO know how to count)7. He has even fewer pairs of shorts to choose between.6. To him, accessorizing with a hat is best part of getting dressed. (He had all these specially made just to stand out a bit)5. He does all this work in extreme heat. Yesterday the temp hit a high of 101 degrees, not to mention humidity. WOW.

4. He cut his own hair in attempt to stay cool from the heat. 3. Instead of sexy smelling cologne, he gets to smell like a mixture of these:2. He RARELY complains. I honestly think I complain for him more often than not.

1. He does all of this so we will have more money and won't have to work as much during the school year.

So go ahead Nate, kick back with your Dr. Pepper and NBA Live '08 on the Playstation. I'll scrub the dishes anytime.

"Wii" Love Nate!

I'll admit, I'm a bad wife. It was Nate's birthday on March 11 and I REALLY wanted to scan in some pictures of when he was little, then write him a birthday note. Well as you can tell, I'm a week late, and due to a broken scanner at my father's home, there are no cute childhood pics. (Don't worry, I was able to get my act together enough to invite some friends over for a birthday/Jazz game viewing with cake and ice cream.) He didn't get the total shaft.

We also got to spend last weekend in St. George at my aunt and uncle's awesome house. (If you ever happen upon our blog - THANKS again Brent and Dixie!) It was kind of our spring break and Nate's birthday weekend celebration. We had lots of fun relaxing, eating, and playing the Wii. As part of my Nate tribute, I thought I'd post this video, and I hope you find it as funny as I did. (You'll hear my annoying and embarrassing laughter)

**I tried extra hard to figure out how to flip the video right side up but it wasn't happening. It's still entertaining though.
Also, the zooming in of the butt was a failed attempt to capture his excessive shaking. ;)



I hope you had an awesome 24th birthday Nate! Thanks for being such a wonderful husband.

Why Nate is great:
There are lots of pictures...you have been warned!

~He is pretty much always happy - really.
~He is a hard worker!
~He has a tendency to be a poser...~He is very athletic and loves to play any and every sport.
~He loves to laugh, and his laugh is one of a kind.
~He is a great brother and brother-in-law.~He is optimistic and can find the good in every one and every thing.
~He is a friend to everybody!
~He loves all of my kisses.
~He makes a great Mario.
~He loves to pull goofy faces when I ask him to smile normal...~He can make a mean dish of mac and cheese.
~He took me to Memphis and trekked around all the nerdy Elvis sites cause he knew I'd love it.
~He is a silly uncle and his nieces and nephews love him lots!

And most importantly...he puts up with me!Happy late birthday Nathan J!

2 years

When I looked out the window this morning I just laughed. There must be some unwritten rule that February 22nd must be a gray and overcast day in Logan. 2 years ago, standing outside the Logan Temple, I was freezing and shaking; but I was ecstatic. Now, 2 years later, the same foggy sky is looming overhead, the snow is cold and crunchy, and once again; I'm happy. Happy because 2 years ago today I married my best friend. Any other cold and depressing weather day, I dislike, but today...it's sentimental. I love you Nate!

Notice how my hands are purple. BRRR!

Home Sweet Home

So we're back from the cruise, very behind in school, and slightly sun-burned, but it was worth it. We had a very fun time on our Apx adventure and here are some of my favorite pics...


Here we are right after getting on the boat. We're still stinky and gross from the long plane ride.










The first night












Our dining room...kinda reminded me of Titanic.

Formal night

Our friends Rem and Traci
The single guys from Nate's office that won the cruise too - Michael, BJ, and Jake.

Nate (aka Britney Spears...you know, yellow boa??) in Cozumel. I was shocked he even dared.
Then the little kids had to show him up... :)
Here we are getting our tats. Haha. Look at the difference in Nate's skin and the tatoo guy's.
We went zip lining then tubing down a river that went through a lot of caves in Belize. It was so very fun.
And one of the best things happened while we were gone - Nate's brother and our sister-in-law had their baby! Welcome Trey!