Picture

For all you picture-free blog post haters,

Here you go ya jerks

(Thanks for the shoes Garrett! Your stuff is on it's way soon)

V-day

We had a pretty decent Valentine's Day. Some scattered thoughts:

1. Sadie and I both had doctor's appointments in the late afternoon. I had to do my gestational diabetes test, which I was actually pretty nervous about since I failed the 1-hour test last pregnancy (see post here). My new doctor's office just does a finger prick and they can tell you the results within a couple minutes- it was a big fat pass for me! We also found out Sadie is still alive and healthy at her appointment. Phew.

2. We actually did more for Valentine's this year than normal. Daniel picked up dinner from Outback and 2 very thoughtful presents. First, Sadie got Tyrone (from Backyardigans- a tv show Sadie enjoys). For some reason Tyrone has turned into a tickle monster and she uses him to tickle us. I got Mockingjay (the third book of the Hunger Games trilogy). I enjoyed it- suspenseful just like the other two books, but I felt like the ending was too short. There was such detail in every part of the book and then the end was like- oh and this is what Katniss ends up doing.

3. Daniel got some much-needed new black dress shoes. Boring, I know.

4. Our first Valentine's Day together (back in 2003) actually wasn't awkward, despite the fact we had been dating less than 2 weeks. Probably because the drama surrounding us beginning to date forced us to admit that we liked each other a lot from the very start- we knew where we stood already.

5. I like the way my mom did Valentine's Day when we were growing up- it was about family and general love and not romance. We had a nice family dinner party. We were not allowed in the dining room while she decorated- decorating all cute is not like my mom at all. My dad did the cooking (as usual). We each got a long hand-written, very personal, Valentine's card- not just generic "I love yous" but why specifically she loved us individually. Then we got a small present along with a plastic cup of Valentine's candy. Who knows why the candy had to be in a cup- but it did. Later on she also added the tradition of making heart-shaped cakes and delivering them to people who we really appreciated or thought could use a pick-me-up.

6. My father-in-law's birthday is on Valentine's Day- happy birthday Tom!

7. I don't hate or love Valentine's Day. I plan on using it as a day to remind me to make sure my family knows how much I love them. Daniel and I can celebrate us on our anniversary.

8. Sadie is still nutty

(My last 3 posts have included numbered lists)

Texas

Last week Sadie and I headed to the great state of Texas for a little visit with our Nielson family. Some of you may be thinking "wasn't it just a month ago that Carly devoted an entire blog post to complaining about her trip back from Boston alone with Sadie?" The answer would be yes, yes it was. However, there was a perfect storm of events to get us to Austin- we needed a break from the cold and monotony of Utah winters, Daniel was going on a long road trip, and the airfare (a direct flight!) was a great deal.

Here are the highlights of the trip:

1. Spending time with Bear paw and Cici (Daniel's parents)- I'm not sure how they decided on those names, but it's what Sadie is calling them so there's no going back now. Sadie says "bahpa" and "cici".

2. Eating at Chuy's- one of my favorite Austin restaurants. They have the best diet coke. No joke. It is the best diet coke I have ever had. I avoid caffeine while pregnant but I let myself have 2 big cups of it. The baby liked it. Sadie loved the creamy jalapeno dip. Yes, it is spicy and yes, it was too spicy for me the first time I had it 8 years ago, but my daughter loves a little kick to her food.


3. Courtney's birthday- we got to be with her on her birthday (my brother Matt's birthday too). The greatest gift was Sadie actually cooperating for a nice picture.


4. Piano playing- Sadie loved having access to her grandparents' piano 24/7. She performed multiple concerts with her face as close as possible to the keys and then dramatically ending it with the lowest possible note.

(I just missed the ending here)

5. Seeing Mel- one of my best friends from college lives in Austin. I didn't take any pictures but she treated me to a delicious lunch one day. We spent 2 hours after lunch walking around an outdoor mall in 65 degree weather. It was amazing.

6. Coloring- Sadie's new favorite activity is coloring.

Courtney's boyfriend James bought Sadie one of those sets where the markers only work on the coloring book. Sadie spent hours (literally) coloring. I was a mean mom and refused to sit with her sometimes so that's when Bapa stepped in and relieved me.


7. The park- Sadie got her first taste of the park this year. She is actually big enough to climb up and go down some slides by herself. I can't wait until spring!

8. The Austin Children's Museum- we went on a morning that was designated for kids under 3 only. I almost felt like I was back in Utah- tons of young moms (many of them pregnant) with little kids.



There were all kinds of ramps you could put golf balls down. Here's Sadie and Cici taking their turn. The ramps had buckets at the end for the ball land in. At one point we were talking and didn't notice Sadie take a dive head first into a bucket. She wasn't too bothered by it- just wanted the ball in it!

Sadie was a little unsure of the exhibit that played animal sounds, but she loved the "Mi familia" exhibit. It took her a couple tries, but she played those drums like she'd done it a million times before. We steered clear of the room you could color in- didn't want to be stuck there all day.


9. Finally, Sadie's absolute favorite thing had to be Abby- the Nielson's 9-year-old basset hound.

It took Sadie about 1/2 hour after we arrived to decide Abby was amazing. She constantly wanted to know where Abby was. She shared her toys, food, and lots of hugs and kisses with Abby.

The first thing she wanted when she got up in the morning and from naps was "goggy...habby"
Here she is helping bring Abby in from the backyard.

Kisses for Abby. Sadie is still mourning the absence of Abby. She occasionally calls for "goggy" when she's eating or sitting at the table coloring and I have to remind her that there's no dog in our house. Almost makes me want a dog....but not really.


We had so much fun getting out of Utah and seeing the Nielsons. Sadie is trying to adjust to not having constant attention. I am so so so glad we went- thanks for being great hosts Tom and Carolyn!

Basketball Game Veteran

In Sadie's short 18 months of life she has been to at least 30 basketball games. She goes nuts when I tell her we are going to daddy's basketball game. She sprints to the back door and tries to open it.

Here's how the basketball game process goes:

1. Giggle excitedly upon arrival inside the arena- yell "ball!!!!!"

2. Find daddy- point and yell his name (he may or may not notice)

3. Watch game occasionally

3a. especially if Daniel yells


4. Eat snacks


5. Climb on and off every chair on the row (yes, we always have an entire row to ourselves)

6. Entertain people sitting around us


7. Drink water


8. Go crazy when "Willy" the Wolverine mascot comes around- give him a high five with one hand and get a death grip on mom with the other. Do NOT let him out of your sight until he has left the floor

9. Claim stair area as own

9a. Sit on them

9b. climb up and down them

9c. kneel on them


9. Run around the court after the game like you own the place

Nursery Girl

An 18 month old crazy

Sadie went to nursery yesterday all alone. She loved it. Cried when Daniel picked her up. We have been accompanying her to nursery for the past couple months and she could have cared less if we were there. As of January 29th we are happy to be child-free for the last 2 hours of church (at least for the next 3 months....).

P.S. Check out Sadie's new hiding place

Just open the door and step right in!

It makes me giggle every time she hides there

Miss Independent

Sadie has started playing on her own a lot.

She'll sit down and read for a while by herself.

The other day she went upstairs in her room and shut the door. When I went to check on her 1/2 hour later I found her sitting on the floor talking/singing to herself and reading, much like this (but in her room).

She does weird things. For example, taking all the refrigerator magnets and putting them in her plastic golf bag.

See?

Now the magnets absolutely have to go in this golf bag. If I put them back on the fridge she immediately loads them back into the bag.

When she plays with her wooden blocks they all have to be sitting with the colors up and the plain wood on the sides. Sometimes I mess with her and go over and turn a few to the side. She immediately stops and puts them back.

She can also stack the blocks 4 high all by herself (and then knock them over, of course)

Sadie's favorite thing may be her shows.

The other night while watching Baby Signing Time apparently she felt the need to read.

And finally, since multiple people have asked me, a belly shot.

On the left- a 23 1/2-week shot from a few days ago. On the right- a 24-week shot from last pregnancy.

Rough Life

When I pick up Sadie from her babysitter she is pretty much always ready for a nap. The rides home can be rough.

(My favorite)