Born an Engineer

We were at Paul's parents house looking through old photos when we came across this beauty. Guess who? Part of me has always wondered when Paul became interested in all things mechanical. Now I know. He was practically born that way. Can you tell where Audrey gets her cheeks?

Cute to Ruggedly Handsome....I love him.

Hair Cutting and Gift Giving

It was my Dad's birthday last week. He is hilarious...I love his guts! I will cherish this picture forever (Thanks Kim!). I know everyone says this but he really is the best Dad in the whole world. Maybe some of his parenting skills will rub off on me!

This whole Christmas thing is driving me nuts. Every year I have the hardest time finding my husband the perfect gift. In years previous I have crashed and burned in this category! Literally. It will be forever burned in my memory. If I were less of a person I might just get him a gift card...but I'm not!! I've been researching. We will see if it pays off.

I cut my babies hair today. I know what you're thinking...she doesn't have any. Well she did. It may have only been a small thick tuft in the back of her head but I assure you she had some. I was so proud of her dark brown hair that it may have clouded my judgment. She grows hair like a champ in that one spot. I finally decided that it was probably not the best look for her. It had to go! She has a very short attention span so she wouldn't stop moving her head back and forth. It might look worse than it did!

Moving on...

In honor of the season we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional a couple weeks ago. If you haven't seen these videos you should! They are awesome. I promise you won't regret the time it takes.
Anyway...I, like the wise men and shepherds so long ago have a desire to give a gift to the Savior for his birthday. I assumed he would want what Pres. Monson wanted for his birthday last year, "lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees". So I'm on a mission to do just that. Wish me luck!

What will your gift be this Christmas?

3 months

My Beautiful Baby is growing up. I can't believe she is already 3 months old! My sister Lisa made her this beautiful dress out of some of my mom's vintage fabric. Isn't she beautiful! Thanks Aunt Lisa, you're awesome. All of the little girls at church are going to be jealous.

Part of me just wants this little baby to stay little forever and yet I love each new smile, sound, and movement. She is slowly gaining control of her hands (her new favorite toy is my hair). She smiles like it's her job (when there isn't something interesting like a camera around), and still hates tummy time.

I started voice lessons last week. I love singing again. Paul is finishing his second to last semester of school for his bachelors degree. He'll be glad when it's over. He got a job offer in Texas and we'll be heading there next year.

We enjoyed spending thanksgiving with Paul's family and can't wait for Christmas. I love this time of year. Being wrapped up in a blanket with someone you love watching a movie with a cup of hot chocolate is a must. If you haven't already done it, you should!

2 Months

Halloween is a week away! I'm so excited and to be honest it really doesn't add up. I'm still living in an apartment so the opportunity to scare kids who come to my door is really non-existent. I'm no longer a kid... I might have been able to pass for trick- or-treating a year ago but now that I'm a Mom it kind of feels wrong. My brother and I used to talk about trick-or-treating till our nineties, we would die doing it. The ultimate Halloween treat left on someones doorstep. They would probably never be the same after witnessing such an event, but we thought it would be the best way to go. I guess it wasn't in the stars because I stopped at 19. I had a good run.

It's just too bad Audrey isn't old enough. I did have a thought as I was driving to my parents house the other day that maybe I could take her to be the decoy. Maybe next year.
Paul doesn't understand he says it would be easier just to buy my own but you don't get the variety like you do when you get a piece from each house. Lucky for me I'm living close enough to my parents this year that I might be able to get a little scaring in.
Pictures will be posted...

As for Audrey...
I can't believe it's been 2 months. She is my best little friend.

Rough Morning

Paul decided it would be wise for us to invest in a video camera to document Audrey's life. I've never really been into video cameras. I remember hours and hours of footage taken at my uncles farewells and homecomings. Since then I think I've changed my mind. I think the key is short videos. This one is my favorite...I could watch it over and over again. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Audrey's Special Day

I sit here typing one handed. If you have ever done it you know that it's definitely not efficient. Audrey woke up from her nap with a stomach ache so I resort to comforting with one arm and typing with the other.
Last week was Audrey's baby blessing. I was the first time I have orchestrated and event of any kind. I told Paul I should have delegated it to his Mom. She's much more experienced in these things. Overall I was surprised it went as well as it did. We almost didn't have plastic plates, cups, or forks....Paul's parents came through for me there.
I was so happy two of my older sisters were able made the drive to see her and spend time with me. It's been a long time since I've seen some of my nieces and nephews, you would thing I'd been gone for years. They are all growing so fast. It meant so much to me that my Mom took time to make Audrey a beautiful blessing dress. She looked like a princess!
I love this set of pictures. Audrey has three cousins around her age. Audrey still hasn't acquired the art of sitting and by the look of her face she's not to happy about me making her but someday she will thank me for documenting this moment. It's makes my laugh. They are all so cute!

Update

I love the Fall. I love wearing a light jacket and smelling the crisp air. I love the holidays and I love spending time with family. I wake up every morning a love that I am here where I grew up even if it's not permanent, I'm soaking it all in one day at a time.
I've decided that I'm going to start voice lessons again. This time going in with thoughts of what I can take away to start teaching. Over the last couple years I haven't been anywhere permanent enough to start teaching but that's going to change soon enough. Lately I've missed the joy that singing brings to my soul. It makes me so happy to learn new music. Secretly I've been slowly teaching Paul. Nobody knows this but he actually sang with me in our ward in Texas which he never would have done before. I think he's slowly warming up to my side of the world. The side that doesn't involve complex thinking...just a little bit of Country and Rock n' Roll.
Audrey is growing so fast. I feel like if I blink I might miss something cute.
She thinks she's so big, she doesn't just want to lay on my shoulder. Instead she tries desperately to hold her head up like a big girl and look around. She loves to stare at her Daddy, when he gets home her eyes follow him everywhere he goes. She laughs in her sleep, kind of makes me wonder what she's dreaming about. She loves to cross her legs like a little princess. She's still learning how to smile but when she does it accidentally it the cutest thing I have ever seen! She grunts all the time. I think it's her way of communicating. She smacks her lips when she's hungry and cries when she has a tummy ache.
When I lay her down she sticks her legs up like this. Someday she's going to have some nice abs! Notice the Thunder Thighs...this was a month ago I think they are still growing! Plain and Simple... I love her guts!

Audrey's Many Faces (1 Month)

Audrey's Adventures

I will spare you the crazy details this adventure but I wanted to get something rough down for now. I had Audrey on the Thursday the 25th. We spent two nights in the hospital before we came home to our apartment in Texas. I was a little overwhelmed because there was so much that needed to be done before we moved that Sunday. Paul's brother and his wife were our heroes. They fed us that evening and Paul's brother came over in the morning to help Paul finish picking up the house and packing the car. I tried to put on my games face as we got in the car Sunday afternoon and made our way back to Utah. I know your thinking this may sound crazy but you do what you have to do. Paul started school on Monday and we had to be back as soon as possible. We knew we would be a couple days late but we finally made it Tuesday evening. Audrey is such a good baby and slept through most of it, although I don't think she likes her car seat anymore. My delivery went better than planned, but as we left I wasn't sure if I was actually going to make it that far. Paul gave Audrey and I a blessing before we left and I know that is what held us together.
My parents have taken us in and have been so great to let us stay here until we find an apartment. It's been nice to have my little sisters hold Audrey when I want to take a shower and be able to take a nap whenever I want. I have a feeling when I leave here I'm going to miss being spoiled.

These pictures were taken a couple days after we got here. These are for you Merian!

Miss Audrey

I love how people in the south use the title of Miss in front of peoples names. I used to love that the woman at the security gate to Paul's work used to call me Miss Emily. There was a woman in my ward in Texas (My third Mom) that called this little one Miss Audrey in the womb and I loved it! Hence the title.
Audrey was born on the 25th...almost a week ago. As I hold her I feel like I'm dreaming. I love being her Mom! I keep thinking that someone is going to come and take her away and say "just kidding". Fortunately for me that hasn't happened yet.
Paul is in love with his little princess. She already has him wrapped around her little finger.
I'll post details about the week later, but for now I just wanted to show you how beautiful she is. Someone please pinch me!





Thanks to my sister Lisa. She only had an hour and she made magic with these photos!

Pregnancy

For those of you who haven't seen me lately. Audrey is growing, and hopefully we will meet her on Tuesday

Texas Wrap Up!

There are a lot of things I have missed over the past few months. It seems like every time I sit down to write the words leave me and I am left alone with the computer and an empty brain.
Today is a little different. There are a few really exciting things that are coming up in the near future and I thought that I might do one last post before all the craziness starts.

Paul finished work today! I am so proud of him and the hard work that he has put in over the last eight months. He said his final presentation went pretty well. You have to know Paul to know what that really means; Translation: "I'm AWESOME and everyone was wowed by my proposals". He has learned so much and I know that knowledge will help him through these next two semesters.

This Picture:
Paul's family came out at the end of June. Really it was a breath of fresh air for me. I think I let out a few tears when I saw his Mom. It had been a while since I had seen one of my Moms. While they were here we had a birthday party for Paul. He wanted Pumpkin Pie. I know weird...considering it was June. My Mom always made me my favorite so we continue on with the tradition. Isn't he good looking?

This next week is going to be filled with preparations to leave. Packing everything, shipping everything, Moving furniture, cleaning house, cleaning our car (I think there is 8 months of beach sand on my floor mats), and getting ready for our hospital trip. I'm pretty sure my Doctor is going to strip my membranes on my Thursday apt. I'm only assuming considering he said he would cause me a little more pain and we would get things moving. Usually when Doctors say a little bit of pain they don't really mean a "little" bit of pain. Then if I don't have the baby by Tuesday I will be induced...but only if things look like they are progressing. There's a third option if things aren't progressing but I try not to think about that one because I don't want Paul to leave me.
After meeting Audrey which is what I'm most excited about... Paul will pack up the car while I recover for a few days and then we will make the 28hr drive back home so that Paul can make it back for school.

It will be the 1st adventure we have as a little family unit. I will be documenting every moment so that someday she will be able to share that she became a Texan and moved to Utah all in one week. It's going to be a pretty good story!

This Picture: At the end of July my ward gave be the most beautiful Baby shower. Most of them have only known me for 8 months and they have been so kind to me. I hope to keep in regular contact with them because they have become my greatest friends.

Side shot will be coming next week.

Thinking Out Loud

During the past few days I have felt like I am living in a dream. I guess it could be because so many things are changing in my life right now. So many things are happening that I have only ever occupied my dreams. I sit here day after day and try to convince myself that I really am going to be a Mom in less than 4 weeks time. I'm pretty sure nothing is registering up in that vast empty space of a brain right now. I feel like I'm going crazy.....I'm going to be a Mom!
I went to visit a lady in the hospital today. Her nurse told me that he has delivered 15 babies, and then proceeded to offered his guess on Audrey's arrival date, which was 7-10 days considering how low I'm carrying. I had to giggle a little as I left the hospital. He doesn't know that having a baby early is not in my genes, nor do I want it to be. Maybe I'm carrying lower because I'm tall, but if this is low I would hate to see what high is.

More news. If you didn't already know we are moving again just days after I'm supposed to have the baby, which brings all sorts of complications by itself. But it would be so much harder if there weren't so many people willing to help out here.
I've grown so close to so many people. I wish that I could bring them all home with me. I don't think I have ever had so many great friends of so many different ages.
However, I'm so excited to be going home. I'm already envisioning arriving at the state line. I can't wait to actually see what Fall is supposed to look like.

Sailing

I've heard that people live on their sail boats. Sailboat living is cheap. Many people retire early to live out the rest of their days sailing. At first it may sound like an adventure but I'm not sure I would love living on top of the water...especially during hurricane season in the south.
I have always been curious about sailing. It's something I associate with retired people who have nothing else to do. I've only had it on my bucket list because I just want to be able to say that I've been sailing...find out for myself what all the hype is about. The guy who took us out on his boat is one of Paul's co-workers. How he makes friends with these random people at work I will never know.
Now that I have been I would say that everyone should take the opportunity. I thought of my Mom as I sat there and watched the sunset with the wind in my hair and a light spray of the ocean on my face. I knew that only my Mom would appreciate something so relaxing.
Siting there was almost as awesome as getting to sail it for myself. I was determined that if Bill asked I was not at any means going to touch the wheel of that boat. I thought for sure I would be the one to capsize his hand crafted sailboat. After he told the story of how it was his fathers project and together as father and son they had built it themselves there's no way I was going to touch anything but my butt to the seat.
After much insisting I took the wheel and he talked me through it. It was pretty much awesome...and I didn't even crash it!
Paul kept talking about how relaxing it was all the way home. Who knows someday in the far distant future we may have the bright idea to join the rest of those retired folks out there....but probably not.

Thanks Bill for showing us more of the beautiful side of Texas!

Refining My Skills

I used to watch my Mom sew. She has an amazing talent to make something out of nothing. When I got into high school I was determined to take a sewing class and become an expert. I'm pretty sure I failed miserably. My sewing teacher was far less impressed with me...I was not my sisters!
My problem. I had not an ounce of patience. However it was going to come out was good enough for me. That was until the finished product was a disaster. Then depression would set in. Since then I have put a lot of time in with my Mom, and have watched my sisters over the years. I know now that it's not as hard as I was making it and quality is always better than quantity.
After Paul bought me a beautiful antique sewing machine for Christmas (it runs like a dream) I started making things. At first I had to get over that voice that was telling me that my skills weren't refined enough.
My first project was a quilt that is almost done! This was the second project. If I can do it....you can do it! These cost between $35-$40. I did two for $7.
This is the tutorial I used...the internet is my best friend! It was so easy.

Nursing Cover:

http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

PS I used a 12 inch piece of boning on each of these because the 16 inch was way too big. I'm a little more private than that!

Simple Things

I love the simple things in life. The things that make you forget about everything in the world around you and help you to focus on the important things.
Paul and I had the opportunity to help teach with the missionaries a couple of weeks ago. I had the opportunity to share with one of these people what makes me happy and gives me the most joy. If I had a little more time to think about it, I would have said that nothing brings me greater joy than being in the temple.
I love this place. This one's a little smaller, but it's beautiful and has become my sanctuary in this not so small town.


Side note: I hate that I can't get a really great picture of both of us unless I ask a random stranger to take one.
Hence the awesome awkward close up! It was really bright.

Names

Everyone keeps asking me about names. Everyday we think a little bit about it and everyday we make a little bit of progress. We were looking at five different names, and now we are down to two. I think we like them pretty equally. So I have come to ask your help....although you may not sway our decision I think it would be nice to get some opinions.

I like the idea of naming her after one or two of the amazing women in my life.

Audrey Lyle (Lyle is my grandmothers name. We would like to use one of the grandmothers names but we haven't decided which one yet. Lyle, Nola, Eleanor, or Mary.)

Elizabeth Anne (Elizabeth, and Anne are our Mom's names.)

Please don't say you like both....that will not help in the decision making. I need honest answers here!

I love things that come in little packages

I love mail! I love taking a little stroll out to my mailbox to find something inside. Anything is welcome...although bills aren't the most exciting. At least I feel happy when I can send them back to where ever they came from and not have to worry about them for the rest of the month.
Yesterday I was particularly lucky when I received three envelopes, and all of them contained happiness inside. The first was a gift card from our electric company to Subway. No strings attached, free food...just how I like it! Then there was a graduation announcement from my cousin on Paul's side. Shannon is one of my best friends and I'm so excited for her and her upcoming college debut. Lastly I received the cutest birthday card from my Mother-in-law. I'm sure she is one of the most creative people I know. I think this plays a part in the fact that Paul is such and awesome engineer. Thank you for the card Anne! It made my day!

For all the rest of you...go check your mail. Who knows, you might find something there waiting for you.

Getting me some new skills

Have you ever met or known a women who is obsessed with crocheting or knitting? It seems like their hands are always crocheting and their mouth is always doing something else. I admire that these women seem to have something to do where ever they go. You can be sure that they are always prepared with a skein of yarn and some hooks or needles depending on what they are doing. Well I've never been interested in this skill before. I think the last time I tried was in our Young Women group at church when I was 12. I was really terrible at it because I was so impatient for it to become something. Hopefully I have grown a little more patient since then...because after seeing these beauties I'm looking into developing a new skill.

You Tube here I come!

I had to say goodbye again

Kimberly and Tamara,
You were a much needed visit from home. I know it was cramped because my apartment is hardly large enough for four people, and you had to be woken up by Paul every morning. Maybe next time someone decides to visits me I will have a home...or at least an extra bedroom. Thank you girls for making my mornings brighter, my days full of sun and laughs, and my evenings full of dessert and chick flicks.
I swear I am still recovering from eating so much ice cream. The amount you left is still in the fridge, and I have a filling it's going to be there for a while. Above all thanks for bringing a little bit of home with you! I'll see you again soon...

PS. Thanks for the note. I would never forget you two!

Exhibit A:
This is my calendar...I think the Kimberly and Tamara had claim to the lower portion.

Get Ready to PAR-TAY

In less than a weeks time I get to see these girls!!!!! For my birthday they spent their hard earned money to come see me (cute I know). Thank you girls...I've been missing my sisters! I'm so excited I can hardly sit still!!



We are going to explore the city and spend a lot of time in the water. And of course they can't leave without having some good old Texan BBQ. Bring on the ice cream and beach umbrellas!

Don't worry Mom...I'll try to keep the Texan boys from staring.

Pictures will follow...

Walmart.....a necessary evil

I've avoided this trip for two weeks. I'm now out of face soap, body wash, eye shadow, shavers, shaving cream, cleaning supplies, Q-tips and hair spray. Obviously you can see that I had no choice. I had to brave the crowds, and the crazy people hanging out in the parking lot trying to get me to donate, join their church group, or buy some tomales.
So I figured I would go right after dropping Paul off at work. It would be 8:00...no one would bother me and I could shop in peace. Walmart is the
NECESSARY EVIL in my life. Every time I go something bad happens and I regret going. So why do I keep feeling this gravitational pull toward the big blue sign. I don't know..maybe it's the marketing for cheap stuff.
So this morning I'm pretty excited to go to Walmart so that I can get home and shave my legs. My hair is getting out of control! My specific goal was to address the lack of shaving equipment.
Surprisingly I find everything I need, and I'm pretty proud of the cost. I go to the check out and I'm surprised again because I chose the right line to get into. I was impressed...no crazy coupon lady, no new checker, no product without a bar code, and alas no one with too many credit cards they can't decide which one to use. Paul would have been proud of my surveying skills! The person across from me wasn't so fortunate. As I exit a woman approaches me to discuss the next
religious meeting her church will be having for Easter...I should have given her a pass along card. I'm not too disturbed by this because my shopping experience went fairly well.
I get home and go about my daily routine. I get to the shaving part and there's NO shaving cream! I search the bags over several times hoping that I won't have to go out a get in my car with no gas and go to Walmart AGAIN! Twice in one day is too much for me to handle.
I come up with no shaving cream so I head back to Walmart. The parking lot is overflowing with anxious shoppers. I take a parking spot out back. I head to the customer service counter and the woman there tells me she has to check the register...she wants to make sure that I'm not trying to steal a 2$ bottle of shaving cream. Finally she comes back and tells me to go pick one off the shelves. At this point I'm starting to formulate in my brain how I can get Walmart to pay for this bottle after my inconvenience. I bring the bottle up front and get back in the line of 10 people for her to give me a receipt that means nothing.
As I'm in line I'm looking over my receipt and notice an item that says (disposable) and it costs 15$. I know for a fact I didn't but anything over seven dollars....and nothing that was called disposable!
I get to the front and she gives me the shaving cream. I point out the 15$ and she looks up the number. The shavers that I bought that were labeled 7$ are on my receipt as 15$. At this point I chose to walk away...I could have made my claim but I didn't. I'm not going back home to get the shavers to make a third trip! It was 11:30 I hadn't shaved my legs, I needed to get gas for the car, and I had a visiting teaching appointment at 12:00. My legs still aren't shaved.

Getting Older and Wiser

After blowing out the candles


Earlier this week I went to get my hair cut. Let's just say 80-90 degree weather + pregnancy + thick long hair = a very unhappy person. Afterward, I was headed home on the freeway minding my own business when the person in front of me moves out of my lane. I'm still driving thinking nothing of it, then I see something gleaming on the road in front of me...by that time it's too late. Before I know it I'm hitting a metal ladder going 70 mph. My heart was pounding! I wasn't sure if the car was okay...I didn't even know if I was okay. After calming down and calling Paul I was fine, and the car surprisingly "so far" has nothing wrong with it.
So if your headed out on the freeway make sure to remember to watch out for large random objects. I'm just grateful it wasn't a couch!

This baby is growing. I finally broke down a couple days ago and went pregnancy clothes shopping for my birthday. When I woke up for church last Sunday and tried everything on, and then had to piece something together...I knew it was time. Success, I feel normal again!

For my Birthday Paul and I made breakfast together. He doesn't usually have a lot of time in the mornings so it felt really good to sit down and have breakfast with him.
Breakfast always reminds me of oranges. Have you ever known anyone that doesn't like oranges? I don't know what is involved in the cultivation process to make this deliciousness happen, but I want to know the secret. So now that I have seriously heightened my craving for "Simply Orange" orange juice with extra pulp we will move on.

I had a great birthday yesterday. I spent a day next to the pool by myself, which surprisingly was very relaxing. Paul came home and took me to the greatest burrito place on earth for dinner. Then he made me a carrot cake as per my request...yes he did all of it by himself. I only had to monitor the frosting. Then we watched Tangled. I couldn't be happier, 26 doesn't feel so bad after all!



Very pleased with his cake baking skills



P.S. Thanks to Karl for these awesome candle holders. Our kids are going to love them!