Isaac is proud to announce...

Perhaps it is a concious decision if you want a baby or not. But I don't think you ever make a concious decision whether you want a baby boy or babygirl; it's not like you sit down and have a "planning" session with your honey to decide what you are cheering for. It just sort of happens, you sort of sway one way or the other. Often I hear, "I don't care if it's a boy or girl, I just want a healthy baby." Hmm-how noble of some women. I like Isaac A LOT. And I sort of wished for a little bro for my little man. Not necessarily because I thought a little brother would be a better friend than a little sister. I have two younger brothers who are all boy and I wouldn't trade them for five sisters. I adore them. My decision came from experience...we've done alright with with one little fellow, we should be able to do alright with another. Plus Eric thinks males are the superior gender and I want whatever makes him happiest. (Are you reading this Eric? It's just that most of Eric's free time activities are scheduled around males, and he would rather do yard work than watch a women's team. Huh, Eric?)

Can we do girly? Many of my favorite women in the world have wished it on me: my mom, Kelly (my only sister), and even my dearest friend (who is very girly) Anna. "I hope you get a girl" they said. Before my mother even new we were expecting she told me she was praying for me to get a girl, and when Christy prays, the heavens move. And I will tell you truthfully that I DO WANT A GIRL! I like girls. Girls are great... I don't care what I get I just want a healthy baby.

So that brings us to my doctors visit. We did a sonogram in his office and when I inquired what exactly he was looking at, he told me he was trying to see if he could discover the gender.
Isaac is going to get a little brother! I like boys. Boys are great...I don't care what I get, I just want a healthy baby.

Go Blue Eyes, Go!

Not blogging novel style today. Today is more like a short essay.
I am adding a dancing video: is Isaac playing the drums, practicing the haka, or simply feeling the beat? Whatever he's doing, it makes him happy. Go Blue Eyes, Go!

PS This down loaded yesterday...but then I fell asleep. Happy Eastering everyone.

Aunts + Balloons = Happy Isaac

Isaac is a fan of Grantsville, or at least the people he gets to see there. Andrew came down and Isaac ADORES him. When we were walking into a store I offered to pick Isaac up. Where else in the world would he rather be than in his mama's arms? In Andrew's arms, that's where. Andrew threw him in the air, and chased him around, and was generally the world's best uncle and Isaac decided they are best friends.

We got to be with Michael on his Birthday! Happy Birthday Captain Vegtable! I am a fan of the man (I should patent that phrase) and his wife and kids are pretty cute too. Isaac's creature of preference is Angel, loves that dog. Ang kindly offered to let me have him, and I regretfully had to decline, as the end choice would end up being between Angel or Eric. I choose Eric...therefore Isaac's choice is made for him.

Amy and Katie came to visit us the night before we left. Isaac and I both like 'em A LOT. Isaac especially likes it when Katie repeats Walt Whitman poetry. Isaac just put his little arm around her and listened for a moment and then kissed her cheek. And then he smooched her. Cheers to Amy for getting it on pic. I couldn't love them more. Darling, charming ladies whom I love to be with.

London Bridges...

(Note: pictures are taking ten minutes to down load-I'll fix thix this post tonight...maybe)

Eric had a business trip in London, and I joined him for 4 days. While we were away Isaac made himself at home in Kelly's pantry and took Cheerios and crackers at his leisure. Mostly he pal-ed around with his good buddy Hannah. Isaac LOVES the George kiddos.

Wednesday morning Eric met me at the airport (appropriate English accent usage here) he's a good bloke. We watched the changing of the horse guards. A proud Scottish dad pointed out his son, and also schooled me on the color of the horses. The trumpeter is always on a white horse, just so you know.

Afterwards, Eric and I walked around parliament and Big Ben (not the burger joint) where a pro referendum to the EU constitution was taking place. I was interested; E couldn't have cared less, so we walked past Westminster Abbey towards the Thames River. Daffodils were out and it was (appropriate English accent usage here) brilliant. E went to work and I went to bed. That evening I crossed the Golden Jubilee Bridge and saw some BRIGHT flood lights. After inquiring what was happening, I learned they were filming a popular British show. As I was watching I felt a couple hands reach around me and give me a warm embrace. I thought, "Yea, Eric has found me!" but when I turned around it was a much shorter, long-dark-haired, female version of Eric. Thanks for the hug, random lady. When I finished watching I followed a group of four women who were commenting on the size of the blonde leading lady of the show. Here is part of the exchange as I heard it:
"She's qoo-ooyte a bit smoo-la in life, e-zunt shae?" (If you say that exactly as I wrote it, you should pass a decent accent.)
"But thy sigh the-t dount thy. Thit the teli poots a stow-n own ya?"

Eric worked on Thursday and I went to see a mission companion who married a charming Englishman and lives in Canterbury, Amber Holley White. She has a darling little boy named Asher. She got a master's degree, ran a marathon, and got her scubba diving certificate and traveled most of Europe since I last heard of her. I, on the other hand, had merely gained 30 lbs. since our last parting. If I ever go back to England I will spend a whole day in Canterbury.

Dunking was a form of punishment usually reserved for supposed witches. Remember Monte Python and the Holy Grail...drowning the woman to prove she WASN'T a witch. On being dunked in a river, if the poor woman swam, she was a witch; if she wasn't, she drowned. The classic no-win situation!

Friday, Eric and I walked around a bit and I showed him were I took a "short" cut that added an extra hour to my route back to the hotel. We had a pleasant dinner and walked around Trafalgar Square.

Saturday, we walked over to London Eye but it was MEGA crowded. Then we went to the London Bridge, quite literally. I thought the Tower Bridge was London Bridge. Anyway we got a wee bit lost, but enjoyed our walk along the Thames on the Queen's path. We went to the Tower of London and waited in line for awhile before deciding to leave. We went to lunch in China Town and then went to Spamalot, much merriment ensued. After the show we went back to the London Eye and paid $35 per ticket for the London Eye. It felt like we had more than one hole in our pocket. We both decided the best part was just being together. (Sappy and happy)

E&J on the Queens walk near the Tower bridge
E at the Tower of London J-on the London Eye

Remember when...

we went to the park. I have loved that park for over 1/4 of a century, and I love it that now my little boy, and my nephews and neices get to love it too. I am posting these pictures for Hannah. We heard she is a fan of this blog...so I decided to put in some pictures of lots of people we love.
Couple of pictures of my awesome brothers just "hanging" around with their kids.
Hannah, Hannah, Hannah-this blogs for you. Wish I had a video clip for you.
Mariah on top of the world-just ask her.
Michael challenged Zach to do a balancing act, this is post accomplishment.

Wheeeeee! He looks a bit dizzy, eh?
On the way home. Isaac LOVES his manly cousins.

Hannah banana as an M&M and Dopey-these are obviously Halloween pictures. Molly played a lovely outdoors number...and Michael looks misteriously like a lounge singer.

Say "CHEESE!"

These are my two favorite faces in the world. Can their grins their grins get any bigger? I don't think so. I caught 'em in the middle of a giggle at Isaac. They both think Isaac is a hoot.

When I take Isaac's picture, there is a red little light from my camera that shines on this face. I guess it seems a little bright to him becuase his eyes flutter. Now, even if there is no red light, he thinks I am gonna click a pic he till does the eye thing.

A Tisket A Tasket...Put Me In Your Bag...sket

Eric plays basketball with the YSA sometimes. Isaac doesn't like to be left behind. Goodness, when mommy does the laundry Isaac doesn't even like to be left upstairs. He thought it was a hoot to get zipped in the bag...but not for too long, just a second or two.


This picture was taken a few weeks ago. We don't have any more snow. Isaac thought the snow was cool, literally and figuratively. His little hands were frozen, but the attached mittens didn't work so great.

I was a little surprised that Isaac liked the snow so much, because he doesn't love cold shocks. Sometimes when we are changing his diaper Eric will put a wipe on his own belly to warm it up. Isaac has it pretty good.