Meet Merritt

So I just realized that we don't have any whole body shots, which is a shame, cause he's got a pretty one. So solid and cute. I do have amazing news, though. He successfully peed in his mouth this morning while I was changing him. He started to pee while I was between diapers, and so I tried to block the pee with my hand, but not before a very accurate stream had gone directly into his open mouth. Gross and kinda cool.

Here he is. You gotta love those CHEECKS! And the hair! Oh, isn't he just amazing??

He reminds me of Josie in this one. The eyes are really similar to her's at that age.
And this one is classic. This was literally moments after I pushed him out, and I definitely look the part. When I looked in the mirror a little while later and said "Yikes" the nurse said, "just think of it as war-paint." I just love the picture cause it brings me back to that on-top-of-the-world moment that it was. So great.

The grande debut

Hey ya'll. So it finally happened! I'll put pictures up later, but for now, here's the quick version: I went into labor 1:00 pm on Monday May 4, we got the hospital at 3:20, and BAM. By 3:54 he was here. SO QUICK. It went absolutely perfectly, and I'm still just floating around here on cloud nine. He's BEAUTIFUL and perfect, and HUGE. He was 9 FAT pounds 1 ounce, and------you ready for this??? He's got RED hair! (Thanks to Allan's beard). So that's it! I'm doing great, (I can't believe how good, actually) and we're just getting ready to head back home. Hooray! Oh, yeah--his name. He sort of just named himself, really. We were COMPLETELY undecided, and then when we finally met him, his name just sort of popped out.
Merritt Allan Tribe
(A big loving shout-out to my bro Merritt:))
Love ya'll! Stay tuned for pictures!

This better be the last belly shot...

INIGO: I do not suppose you could speed things up?

MAN IN BLACK: If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope, or a tree branch, or find something useful to do.

INIGO: I could do that. In fact, I've got some rope up here. But I do not think that you will accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.

MAN IN BLACK: That does put a damper on our relationship.

INIGO: But I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.

MAN IN BLACK: That's very comforting. But I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

INIGO: I hate waiting.

Me too, Inigo. Me too. Inigo is waiting for a duel-to-the-death--which, for all his confidence, could be rather grueling--and yet the anticipation of it all is unbearable. I'm due tomorrow, and the only indication of that is my enormous belly. No real signs of anything going on. In fact, I feel annoyingly comfortable. My back has stopped hurting these last couple of weeks. My pinched nerve really hasn't bothered me. I'm sleeping pretty dang good. I can walk miles without feeling like the baby is going to fall out. I'm not complaining, but it makes me feel like I might just stay nine-months pregnant forever.

I could write an entire book on nesting. I've:
-organized every drawer, cupboard, closet in my house. (Allan says that "organized" is an insufficient description, so I will qualify by adding re-arranged, grouped, labeled, boxed, tubbed, beautified, etc)
-I've cleaned in places that have never been cleaned before (in my house, you sicko).
-I've sewn quilts and clothes and junk.
-I've literally read every book our library has on childbirth--pro-natural, pro-medicated, whatever, I read it.
-I've washed all his clothes and have them neatly folded in the dresser. Just waiting to be pooped on..
-I've bought meat almost every time I go to the grocery store, and have it waiting in the freezer.
-I've painted my toes
-I've straightened my hair almost every day for the past two weeks, just in case.
-And recently, I impulsively painted our dining room table bright red because I was desperate for a project (more photos on that later).

Anyway, so here it is. The last belly shot. It's absolutely ASTRONOMICAL, is it not?! I find that I stun even myself every time I pass a mirror. It doesn't feel that big, but when I see it I'm like "Seriously? That's me?!"

Wow.

Fruits of the Nest

Hey everyone.
I'm always surprised when someone like my Aunt, or Allan's cousin, or a friend from the ward says "oh yeah, I saw that on your blog." Really?! You read this? People read this? One time, I even got an anonymous comment from a "friendly blog stalker" about something I had made. Now, THAT was flattering.
But blogs are great, you know? If you ever are self-conscious or embarrassed about something (i.e. an unusually large belly), just blog about it, and you'll quickly be overwhelmed by boatloads of positive reinforcement. It's great for my self-esteem, but awful for my ego. I mean, based on all your comments, I am in danger of actually believing I am one of the most beautiful and talented people to walk the earth. Would you really have me believe that?? Well, that's what's resulting from all those really nice comments you're making. If I become a conceited, overbearing, unbearable prude, I'm blaming you.
On that note, let me share with you a few of the sweet treasures I've been working on for the newest Tribe.
First of all, don't you agree that lederhosens CAN be manly?
I think so. I'm imagining a tie or maybe a bowtie along with a tiny little dress shirt. Do they make dress shirts in this size? Size weelittle?

And second, I feel there's nothing that says "eclectic intelligencia" like a brown-plaid blazer. I wonder if I could find matching dark-rimmed glasses to really complete the look...
And now as many of you know, I'm trying to teach myself to quilt. Desperate for some guidance/instruction, I called up my mom's good friend and kindred spirit Shauna Ogden, who enlightened me on such things as a walking foot. Changed my life forever. I was able to do all the quilting on my machine, and I really love the way it turned out. I was lucky enough to find a women who would sell me this delicious Heather Ross fabric for retail price, rather double or TRIPLE that, which is what I was seeing everywhere else on ebay and etsy (because it's out of print). Anyway, it was so fun! I don't know if you can see real well, but on each block I quilted a different geometric design, which added a bit of whimsy, I think.


I also made these little booties from excess fabric.
All these projects I have thrown myself into hoping they would distract me from the woes of the third trimester. I won't elaborate about the various aches and pains that befall us all during this grueling time. As far as all that goes, I'm hanging in there. Just trying to avoid counting down or even thinking about time at all. Actually, despite the difficulties of mind and body, I have been extremely happy these past couple of months. As baby boy Tribe's debut fast approaches, I have clung to the short time I have with just my baby girl.
You remember how the Grinch's little heart grows three times larger (uh, something like that, right?) in the end of How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Well, I swear that's what happens when you become a mother. Your heart expands so much sometimes it feels like it will burst. I love my girl. She's my best little friend. My little family of three has brought me so much joy, that although I fully expect the fourth to bring more joy, it will never be the same. It will never be just us ever again. She's been my constant companion every day for two years...and soon that time, this time, of her and me will be over. It will all be wonderful, but it will never be the same wonderful as now. I know I don't usually wax sentimental, but I don't know...the additional hormones (??) have made me quite sensitive lately. You know that feeling when you're in a relationship and you have this gut feeling that the guy is going to break-up with you soon? (past-tense of course for all of you who are now in eternal relationships like me) But you know that feeling? That lump? I kinda feel like that. I feel like Josie is about to break-up with me, and I'm just so in love with her, that it breaks my heart even though it hasn't happened yet. Please tell me that this feeling is just poppycock! Tell me that things will never change between us!

She's potty-trained. She pretty much is amazing at it, too. She's done soooo super well. I realize that it has about nothing to do with me and my abilities to potty-train, and everything to do with her natural "potty" skills, and also that she was just ready. I was DREADING it, but it ended up being no big deal. I'll save all my dread for my next child who will inevitably be potty-training-challenged.

Hey, have you guys ever been to Color Me Mine? SO fun! I'm pretty sure I'm the last one to get on this band-wagon, but Allan took me their for our anniversary, and had so much fun. Last night I went again with my sisters (including my sister-in-law) and mom, and it was so so so fun. I haven't had that much fun since I was baptized. Anyway, so with Allan, we made this bowl. I designed it (which by the way, if it looks familiar to any of you, I have no idea why....?), Allan painted it, and then I added the black etching. I feel bad posting so many pictures of one thing, but I want to give you the full effect.


I also made these knobs. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet...apron holder? Mount them on an old window and hang cute pot-holders on them? Well, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping in and reading. Thanks for all the super nice (if not a little too generous) things you all said after my last post. Hope you enjoyed general conference as much as I did today. My soul was uplifted, and my body was fattened (or my baby's body...or probably both).
Peace.

Where the Wild Things Are

I claim pregnancy

To all the women in grocery stores who comment how I look like "I'm ready to pop:"
I'm not. That is, not quite ready. This is a SEVENTH month belly. Not a nine-month belly, contrary to popular opinion. Ok, go ahead, say it--I've got an impressive belly, right? Right?! Yeah, I know. Most of the time I don't mind. I mean, I'm the first one to taut my belly pride. I don't mind when a little boy in primary says to me (out of the blue) "you can't run. You're too fat." Or when people say "I just can't believe how huge you are." Or when a person who shall nameless says "Wow, you sure have gained some weight!" after not having seen me for a while. Yep, it's true. I have.. but sometimes I get a teensy bit worried that people aren't referring to just my belly, but me in general. All of me. You guys are all talking about my belly, right? Right?! That's what I thought.

And let's talk about pregnancy brain. Can I say a few words about pregnancy brain? Boy, I tell ya. Sometimes I'm frightened for my life when I drive, because I'm worried I'll do something absolutely stupid and get us killed. I wouldn't put it past me. Just filling up my car with gas can be intellectually strenuous. "Umm, what side is my tank? Let's see....where's that little lever? Oh yeah, I need my wallet. Oops, I forgot my wallet! Shoot. I forgot to shut that little door again." It takes me twice the time it would normally, and I'm pretty sure the guy behind me is getting a good laugh. Laugh it up, punk.

And the other day when I made pizza, I forgot that I had left some potatoes in the oven, and they consequently got RE-cooked for three hours. I even put the pizza in without noticing them. And you know what's even funnier? I ate one.
And for your general amusement, here's another video of Josie in the highchair. This time she was deliriously tired (right after church which STARTS at one), and was pretty much like a little drunk girl. Not that I've ever seen a little drunk girl before, but it's what I imagine it would be like. I love how she's cleaning her teeth in it--she just ate PB&J. Sorry for the jiggly camera, that was my bad. Well, I blame the belly.




P.S. Do you like the sun-dress I made? The fabric was $3 at Wal-mart, baby.

Her Morning Elegance

My brother emailed this to me today, and it DELIGHTED me. Made my morning for sure. Good song too! Oh, PS. this is "Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie.