For the fans...

I received a request to post something new and exciting that would promise to entertain. When I inquired about topic suggestions, this is what I got:

5 tips for finding the Mormon man of your dreams
A how-to guide for the new baby to follow in about 18-20 years.

I have decided to do both, but only one at a time. So first...

5 Tips for Finding the Mormon Man of your Dreams:

1) Decide what you want. About 5 years ago, I wrote down a list of characteristics I wanted in a future husband. I called it, "My Johnny Lingo". Here are just a few of the things on my list:

good shoes
good looking, but not TOO good looking,
likes to watch football
drives fast
no pets
good taste in furniture
smells good
uses Mentadent toothpaste
wears chapstick
no Hawaiian shirts
drinks Gatorade
wears a watch
likes fruit
knows how to fix things
business minded
likes Target
likes old people
fan of Mexican food

The list is actually written on a brown paper towel from one of those dispensers in the bathroom. If anyone needs to see the list for authenticity, you are welcome to it. And of course, these are just a few of the most important qualities I was looking for in the Mormon man of my dreams. And C fulfills just about everyone of my important qualities, except for the whole liking old people and using Mentadent parts, but no body is perfect. Right?

2) Know yourself and what makes you happy. Have your own identity. In March of 2003, I compliled a list of 101 questions about me. I wanted to know what I liked and what I didn't like without worrying about what anyone else thought or being influenced by anyone else's opinions. I think it's important when going in to any relationship that you have a true understanding of who you are so that you can offer your 'best self' to that person. Some of the questions and answers include:

What do you like to do for fun? bowl, swing at the park, watch movies, play games
What is your favorite color? red
How many kids do you want? 4 or 5
What's the most beautiful thing in the world to you? A happy family
Will you spank your children? Probably, yes.
How do you feel about promptness? Very important, I don't like being late
Do you like animals? Only at the zoo, not in my house
How many girls have you kissed? 0
What do you like on your pizza? Pepperoni or Hawaaiian
Do your feet stink? When they are sweaty, yes

This is just a sample of the 101 questions.

3) Accept a blind date invitation. Sure, they're risky - but... what's the worst that could happen? And you never know, it may just work out. My parents met on a blind date set up by my mom's sister. Just make sure the person setting up the blind date is someone you trust. Also to keep in mind, you may want to meet this person somewhere. If they find out where you live and turn out to be a total creep - not good. If you sense the date is going nowhere, simply excuse yourself and go home.

I went on a date with this guy once. It wasn't a blind date, but I didn't know anything about him. We met at an Italian restaurant for dinner where he proceeded to tell me about everything on the menu that he recommended. Being polite, I ordered one of his recommendations and then he ordered soup and salad for himself. When I asked him why, he said because my meal was too expensive for us to both get main entrees. (oops!) The funny thing was, he then went on to tell me how much money he makes and how successful he is and that I should feel lucky he wanted to take me out and be my 'sugar daddy'. Needless to say, the date didn't last much longer.

4) Be honest. If you're not ready to get in to a relationship, tell them up front. If you are only looking for something serious, make sure the person you are going out with knows within the first few dates. It's awkward for everyone when you and your date go in to the relationship with different expectations. Like the time I went out with this guy 3 or 4 times because he had a really cute co-worker that we'd run in to occasionally and my 'date' was looking for a wife. Or like the time I told C after our first kiss that I didn't want to get into anything serious because I wanted to keep my options open. We were engaged 6 weeks later.

5) Don't go to BYU. You'll find all kinds of Mormon guys, but not necessarily the one of your dreams. Keep in mind, this is my opinion and experience only, but while attending BYU-Idaho (at the time, Ricks College), I met a lot of eligible bachelors, but none I felt quite lived up to my "Johnny Lingo" expectations.

So C. K. - you know who you are... while you are searching for the Mormon man of your dreams, just remember: C is taken, but there are plenty of others out there, you just may not find him in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Staying Busy

I have been trying to stay busy over the last couple of months with little projects here and there. Most of the time has been spent sewing and making things to use for our little one. Thanks to some great friends who taught me how to make bows and crochet, here are a few of my recent projects:


My first quilt - still a work in progress


Beanies


Baby blanket


Breast feeding cover


Leggings and Bows


Receiving blankets


Burp cloths


Boppy cover

I am happy to teach anyone how to do any one of these things (except to crochet, I'm still learning). Or, if you'd like me to make you something... let me know. And if you have any ideas for new projects too, I'd love to hear.

Utah Utes

So although tonight is the much anticipated VP debate, I am in my bedroom listening to my husband in the living room shout at the television. Yes, the Utah Utes are playing. I can tell they aren't playing their best and that Oregon State is winning just by what C is saying. I am hearing things like...

"Danget, Brian" (QB: Brian Johnson)
"Get rid of the ball!"
"C'mon guys... pay attention"
"NOOOOOO!"
"Gosh danget!" (while fists are pounding on sofa)
"That's what they did to USC" (more fist pounding)
"Ugh, that's frustrating."

I try to avoid the living room when a Utah game is on. C gets very animated and passionate about University of Utah sports. Oh, and there is a bowl of peanut butter M&M's on the coffee table. He also gets very distracted while watching sports. I just put the bowl out yesterday and my guess is that by the end of the game, it will be empty.

C was devastated earlier today when he found out "PTI" didn't record on our DVR. He was really hoping they would be talking about the Utes today. Honestly, do Tony and Mike have nothing better to talk about?

Almost, but not quite yet...

We had quite an adventure this weekend. After a terrible reaction to a nasty flu bug, I ended up in the hospital with contractions and a high fever. This baby still has 7 more weeks to cook, but apparently she thought now was a good time. We are home now and feeling much better. But, I thought now would be a good time to play a little game considering the details of our recent experience. I will provide as much information as possible about this baby and you will try to guess all the details of her birth.

So - my original due date is November 12, 2008. According to the ultrasound at 20 weeks, she was measuring due on November 9, 2008. After the ultrasound this weekend in the hospital, she is measuring about 2 weeks early from her original due date, which would be October 30th. They estimate her current weight at 5.5lbs, but there is about a 13oz. margin of error on ultrasound weight estimate. The ultrasound tech did say she has a 'nice size head' which doesn't sound comforting for the mother who has to birth her. I just keep saying, 'epidural, epidural, epidural.' They also said she just has some peach fuzz on her head, no actual hair to speak of.

C was born at around 5.5lbs a week early; I was born on time at just under 9lbs. C is 6'1" with dark curly hair and dark eyes and I am about 5'9" on a good day with blond straight hair and blue eyes. C was born with lots of hair and I was bald 'til age 3. That's why my mom pierced my ears when I was a baby, which I would like to do for our little girl, but C is opposed.

I am having contractions every time I get up or move around much at all, but nothing painful or consistent. But my hospital bag is packed and ready to go, just in case she decides to express her opinion once again and say, "okay, now!" (she is opinionated like her mother, I can tell already)

Okay, here are the things you need to guess:

Birth Date:
Weight: lbs/ozs
Height: inches
Hair Color, if any:
Hours in Labor: think optimistically

For the person who has the most accurate overall answers, there will be a special prize like a personalized drawing from me on "Paint" or something even more exciting. Maybe I'll write a special blog about how intelligent and insightful you are or maybe you'll just get to bring me dinner postpartum. We'll have to see, but take a guess and see what you come up with.

A great new read

I am reading a new, fascinating book called Parenting, Inc. It has been very insightful as we begin to embark on this journey of parenthood. From her website, www.pamelapaul.com, she summarizes the book as this:

A leading social critic goes inside the billion-dollar baby business to expose the marketing and the myths, helping parents determine what's worth their money-and what's a waste Parenting coaches, ergonomic strollers, music classes, sleep consultants, luxury diaper creams, a never-ending rotation of DVDs that will make a baby smarter, socially adept, and bilingual before age three. Time-strapped, anxious parents hoping to provide the best for their baby are the perfect mark for the 'parenting' industry.

In Parenting, Inc., Pamela Paul investigates the whirligig of marketing hype, peer pressure, and easy consumerism that spins parents into purchasing overpriced products and raising overprotected, overstimulated, and over-provided-for children. Paul shows how the parenting industry has persuaded parents that they cannot trust their children's health, happiness, and success to themselves. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the baby business so that any parent can decode the claims-and discover shockingly unuseful products and surprisingly effective services. And she interviews educators, psychologists, and parents to reveal why the best thing for a baby is to break the cycle of self-recrimination and indulgence that feeds into overspending. Paul's book leads the way for every parent who wants to escape the spiral of fear, guilt, competition, and consumption that characterizes modern American parenthood.

For any of you other parents out there that feel inundated with advertisements and marketing ploys to guilt you in to thinking you're doing your children a disservice by not providing them the best of the best - this may be a good read for you. It has really boosted my confidence in my ability or lack thereof to be a good mom without feeling guilty.