Baby, Baby

Went to the doctor's today. I heard the baby's heart beat and heard it kick. The baby didn't like the midwife pushing on my belly. It kicked the microphone a couple of times and kept moving around to avoid the microphone. We find out in Feb. what we are having. I want to know this time. I feel that it is important that we find out. I want one less thing to wonder about. I lost five pounds since my last appointment a month ago. No worries since I was not able to eat much for a month and a half. I am definitely making up for it now.

Don't worry were not dead.

I haven't been able to update our blog lately because I have been having major morning sickness. I could not keep anything down after I ate breakfast. I couldn't take care of my son or my husband. Thankfully the Relief Society chipped in babysat Riley and cooked meals for Craig. I finally asked the midwife for some meds. I feel so much better being able to eat and take care of my family. We think its a girl because this pregnancy is a lot different then Riley. I have felt the baby move (I think) so I guess she has survived the first three months. (I am 11wks along) Craig finished his finals and did wonderful. He is getting As and Bs. Such a smarty. I am very proud of him. He is working hard to support us. Early morning custodial,his regular job at Erickson's and side work on other people's cars. Not to mention taking care of me and Riley while I was sick during finals week. He has been able to keep up because the Lord has blessed him with a strong healthy body. Craig deserves a big kiss and much more. Riley is still tiny but learning fast. His relationship with Craig has improved a lot while I was sick. He was able to play with his daddy. Riley also signs more words like red, dog, sleep, baby, please (sometimes)and bird. Some of the words he doesn't quite know what they mean unless I do it first. He does recognize a dog and then signs dog, the same thing with baby. He loves his Dr. Sesus's ABCs and his puppy book. When ever he sees hot food he decides he must blow on it to cool it down. Its not spitting either, he actually blows air out his mouth. I tried to get him to blow in my harmonica but he didn't understand that. He thought it was funny when I did it. He is very ticklish too. He fakes cough and laugh to get our attention. He has also ate out of the trash can a couple of times when I am not looking. Usually its his old cold cereal nothing dangerous. He also likes to sleep on his stomach with his butt in the air. Sometimes his face is smashed into the side of the bed. Eating is his favorite past time. It finally snowed in Rexburg. Life is slowing down for awhile and it is almost Christmas. Time to take a big deep breath and let it out slowly. We survived one more semester and a few more months in Idaho, we can six more months. So excited to see family in a week.

I like this video because of Donny Osmond's dance moves.

Guess what?

For all the friends and family that may not know, I am "great with child" again. I am only 8 wks not 3 months as the nurse first told me (thank heavens for ultrasounds). My new EDD is July 4, 09. If the baby is a girl we will name her Eliza Jane. We don't have a boy's name yet. Craig wanted to name him Bono (U2 lead singer). I will be happy with either one, as long as they come one at a time. The picture is from Halloween. Riley is a hip hop artist, Craig is his manager and I am his security guard. The new baby will be Riley's back up dancer.

FYI

Riley has finally hit 20lbs! He is now riding in a forward facing car seat. Riley likes to watch Signing Time, a series of DVD that teaches sign language to children. He has signed his first word which is cracker.

Our new blog

Cast your eyes to the list of blogs we follow. The one titled US is a new blog we started to display our hobbies. Enjoy!

Twilight dud

So I joined the band wagon and read the first book in the Twilight series. For a whole year I heard about these books. Gripping, entertaining, best thing since Harry Potter. I searched at the library for them but they were either checked out or on hold for someone else. So I waited. Thought about buying it. Boy, am I glad I didn't. I didn't like the first book and have no desire to read the other ones. I am probably the only warm blooded female in Rexburg that didn't like the book. Mostly my dislike stems from personal preferences. Basically, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

First, I don't like paperback romance novels. This book read like one for more then half of it. I like love stories like Pride and Prejudice were there is conflict in the relationship and you learn about the main characters' personality.

Second, I like to imagine Craig in the role of the main love interest. I couldn't do it. This was due to the fact of so many cheesy lines. Now I like a little cheese now and then but not for 17 chapters. This was so annoying I couldn't disgrace Craig by placing him in the lead role.

Third, I like conflict in a story. Emotional, physical or mental. Usually conflict brings people together. Conflict played a major role in this book. Vampire loves human. Vampire's family doesn't approve of human. Community doesn't approve of the vampire family. Vampire and human defy the status quo. I don't think it was developed very effectively. The only major conflict in the book that was developed at all occurred in the last 5 chapters but by that time I was so disgusted by the romance novel aspect that the action was a complete bore. I am hoping the movie is much better.

I hate picking up a book that is a disappointment. That bothers me more then anything.

On the positive side this quote from Stephine Meyer's Twilight that I did find interesting.
Edward being a vampire does not feed on humans. Bella asked why.
"But you see, just because we've been...delt a certain hand...it doesn't mean that we can't choose to rise above--to conquer the boundaries of a destiny that none of us wanted."(307) Has a bit of a Gospel ring to it.
If you like paper back romance novels then read it, you won't be disappointed.

Family Pictures

After 3 tries ,we were able to get our family pics taken. We will be sending pictures out to everyone. If there is a certain picture that you would like just let us know. We have a CD with all the pictures on them so we can print off what we want to. Riley did ok during the photo shoot. He insisted on crawling around and the silly boy would not smile until we put him in the bucket. Mostly he had a deer in the head lights look.

Craig said I should put a better picture of Nikki on the Blog. In the other picture she is the one holding the camera. People always look funny when they take pictures of themselves. This one is much better.

Riley's 1st BIRTHDAY!!!

Riley and his best friend Adam celebrated his first birthday was on August 23rd. It's hard to believe this lil spud is already 1. Our friends Desiree, Rob & Lindsay Coleman, Travis & Tasha Poulson, and Cameron & Mana Riedel came to party with us too. Riley has been the greatest blessing in our lives. He is bursting with personality. Mana says his obsession with holding Nina's hair while nursing will lead him to a long-haired bride. He loves little people - he's always "chatting" with other children his age and crawls out of his way to befriend them. Nina complains about Riley's habit of ramming his head into her leg over and over again while making "Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh" noises as she's trying to make dinner. I think he'll probably be a trumpet player like Uncle Todd b/c he's always taking anything funnel-like and making noises through them. If there's one thing this birthday boy likes the most (besides his way-hip parents) it's music! He loves to dance like a disco star like right out of the Jackson Five.

Because we can, and b/c Riley doesn't know what you can really buy with money, we took full advantage of the opportunity - and went cheap. .75 cents bought a little drum from the local D.I. and he fell in love with it immediately.

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

The black spots on Riley's face are bugs. I forgot how bad the bugs are in WV.


















Nikki, Amber and Riley

Riley liked to try and catch the water as it came out of the faucet.

Riley and I are in West Virginia for a whole month visiting my family. My sister Amber is getting married this month on the 20th which is the main reason I came home. It is nice to be home. I haven't been home for more then a week since Craig and I got married. I got to meet one niece and I get to watch Julian's (little bro.) flag football game. I even get to spend my birthday with my family. I am glad to be home but I do miss my hubby!!! I can't wait to see him again.

Craig's TOY

After some persuasive negotiation between my wife and I, our family has been blessed with a new baby boy - a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 motorcycle!!! Talking to Todd was my ultimate downfall. He told me how much he liked his '02 Ninja and after looking for a deal close to Rexburg (still had to drive to Boise - 3.5 hr drive one-way) day and night, it was inevitable. A man needs speeeeeeed. NOW all the brothers need to do is plan a trip next Summer in Colorado for some fun in the Rockies. Tony might like the name of the color: Bronco blue w/ orange. This little baby gets 60mpg and pushes the 90mph barrier like white-on-rice. It's an amazing little bike for a 250cc. My excuse to Nina was that I needed some 'company' while she was away visiting her family this month. By the way, check out the red-line on the tach! WweeeeehhhaaaaaAAA!

One of the motorcycle shops in Rexburg hosts a "anyone with a motorcycle" ride every Thursday at 6pm. I went this past week and there was 24 of us! There was wind gusts up to 38mph but man was it worth it! SACRIFICE BABY! It was a good way to meet other biker dudes and feel like your special, even if you're riding a 250cc:)

Memories

Riley will be one in just a couple of days. I was thinking about the past year. Here are things that I remember.
I remember being so tired during the labor and delivery, that is an understatement. However, Craig was more tired then me. He dozed off while I rested between contractions. Craig got a little teary eyed after all was said and done. That was a special moment.


I also remember the mid wives shooting the breeze b/t each other or with Craig. Here I was working the hardest I have ever worked and the mid-wives were talking about getting pictures taken after I finished. They judged I would be finished in time for there photo shoot. Glad I could be so thoughtful.


I was so tired that I didn't want to do it any more. I just wanted Riley to come on his own. But the finial push finialy came with me griping Craig's shirt with one hand and focusing only on him. I was determined to be finished. I had had a enough. I don't remember any pain during the delivery, too tired to care.

During the first four months I would prefer labor to nursing Riley. It was so hard to nurse him every 3 hrs. and then hold him so he would sleep. Now I choose nursing to delivery.


Riley loves to hold my hair for comfort.


After the first four months, time began to fly by fast. Rolling over, talking, and crawling. So much in so little time. He insists on crawling through our legs by ramming his head over and over again against our legs until we spread them. Riley loves to dance. He dances to the radio, TV or when Craig and I sing to him at night. He will even dance while I am nursing him.


When I was still pregnant, I craved dirt and chalk. Living in dry hot Idaho didn't help. I never ate dirt or chalk instead I collected rocks. Almost every day I went outside to the railroad tracks and collected rocks.
When I take Riley outside he refuses to crawl in the grass. Instead he stays only on the side walks and playes in the rock beds that surround our apartment. He does love the slide and swing. He likes to eat broccoli.


We love him very much!


Who does Riley look like more?

Drink anyone

Craig and I like to watch Project Runway. A reality show where undiscovered designers compete in different challenges. This dress is made completely out of plastic cups. Amazing!! We also like to watch a marathon of Star Trek:TNG on Monday nights. Don't worry we still have FHE.

Flippn' Sweet

We visited Preston Id for the Napoleon Dynamite festival. We missed most of the actives but did get to see the winner of the Moon Boot Dance and Impresonationcontest. Here is the winner.
Does anybody recognize the farmer in the picture. Yep! He shot the cow. Dale (I think its his name) absolutely loved Riley. In fact he just about grabbed Riley out of my arms.

Weird and scenic landscape

Craters of the Moon is a national park the size of Rhode Island. (750,000 acre). It can be seen from space.



Craig walking up a cinder cone.
At the top of the cinder cone. Can you guess which way the wind is blowing.
Young lava flows with splatter cones.
Splatter cone and miles and miles of lava rock.

We ate in the small town of Arco. It's claim to fame is being the first city to be powered by atomic power. Craig had to try the Atomic burger!

Walking the cinder cone.