More Things I Love about Utah and Things I Miss about Boston

Love about Utah

Pizza Factory Breadsticks:  I don't know what it is about those swirly things on a stick but I just adore them.  I took the boys out to lunch (they have an all-you-can-eat breadstick buffet at lunchtime) on Monday and gorged.

LDS Romance Novels at the Library:  Okay, I think I'm baring my most embarrassing part of my soul here (actually, no, another post on that later) but I have a secret hankering for LDS romance novels from time to time.  The first week I was here I checked out like five from the library and read all in a matter of two and a half days.  Then I had to go get a sequel to one and read that in one day.  So six books in three and a half days.  I read most during quiet time and far far far too late into the night, so I wasn't taking too much advantage of free baby-sitting (though I admit some).  I could positively feel my brain atrophying the longer I read but sometimes a girl's just got to let that happen.  Similar to those pints of Haagen Dazs I ate when supremely happy or desperately depressed as a college kid.  Come to think of it, I probably ate ice cream and read poorly written, superficial novels simultaneously on more than one occasion (not that all LDS novels are poorly written and superficial but I hope we all agree that many are.  Clean, yes.  Great literature, not necessarily.). 

Miss about Home

Collin:  Well, obviously.  I can't even begin to say how much we miss him.  Skype and phone calls and email are okay fillers, but just not the same as a welcome-home hug and kiss or Daddy-wrestling.  I love hearing Davy ask to talk with Daddy and Eddy point to the picture of Collin in our room with his sweet voice saying, "Oh, Daddy.  Love him!"

Friends:  Oh man, I never appreciated friends until we moved to Belmont and got absolutely spoiled with the most incredible friends.  I am loving all the family, of course, but I miss the conversation and crazy-kid play time with friends at home.

Driving:  Crazy, I know, since I've grumped about this very subject repeatedly in the past (and will again I'm sure).  But for some reason I'm missing the MA drivers and pedestrians and one-way streets that keep me on my toes and make every drive an adventure.

Pumped Gas:  Especially in the winter it's so awesome to just pull up to the pump and hand the card through the window and have someone else do the work!

Trash Day:  Though it's not actually that great of pickings in the winter, usually, I miss walking or driving down the roads and seeing possibilities.

Walking to the Library:  Even in the winter (particularly since I hear the winter is being so mild so far) a weekly exercise and rotating of books.  Storytime notwithstanding, I adore having the library walking distance.

Variety of Museums:  Here, excepting the BYU museums (and the Bean museum "dead zoo" is closed until Fall 2013!  So sad.), you have to drive so far to get to any museum, nevermind the lack of variety in a small area.

Looking over the list it's kind of a weird collection of things (besides Collin . . . and friends) but that's what's been bonking around in my mind for a few days and I just had to get it out.

Boys this Week

This Edward really cracks me up with his crazy sleeping positions.  Half the time he's halfway off his bed legs dangling, but this one I caught on camera was really great.   I love that he'd shed his pants, his blanket, ignored his pillow but was still stubbornly asleep.  He is still in a diaper overnight at my insistence but he for a long time threw the biggest fit over the fact.  Finally I figured out that if we put on underwear in addition he's okay. 

Bath pictures.  Haven't done these for a while.  I was helping the boys take a bath this morning in "Nana's bathtub" and remembering bath time in my Grandmother's 70s aqua tub with her cool bath toys. *** Add bath pictures for print out journal ***

Davy's been very involved in his projects and drawing recently.  Right after I snuck this picture he looked up at said, "No Mom!  No pictures.  I'm too busy doing my project and you can't take pictures when people are doing their projects!"

Edward is such a puzzler.  He "helped" Aunt Katy with her 1000 piece puzzle this afternoon.  My favorite quote from Eddy this week was when we were talking about words that begin with "R" for Mommy school.  We got around to names, saying, "Spencer ends with an "r" and Erica has and "r" in the middle.  Mommy's name Rachel starts with an "R""  A few minutes later Eddy looked at me and said, sounding out like Davy does, "Rrr, rrr, rrr . . . Mommy!"

Musings on the Baby Name

When I called Collin to let him know what we were having I didn't know how to announce the news, but what popped out first was, "Well, we won't have to talk any more about a baby name!"  It was a heartbeat before he understood, then said, "Yay!  A little girl!"

Since before Collin and I were even engaged we've had a baby name that we both liked and agreed on.  Something cute, meaningful, spunky, strong, sweet.  Obviously at that time we weren't planning necessarily on having a baby together, but since then we obviously have!  That name has stayed constant in our top slot for a name--a girl's name, that is.  For both of our boys there was much discussion--months and months, poor Collin--and some disagreement.  Our boys' names were never on any of my "lists" as a teenager or even young married dreaming of children.  That isn't to say they haven't grown on me, for they have and now I can't imagine any other names for the boys.  But both were born with a tentative name that took a little while to settle in my mind and in use.

With this new baby we waited to find out until Utah so my sisters could be there for the ultrasound.  I made an appointment soon after arriving but they wouldn't be able to get us in for an ultrasound at the clinic until the middle of February.  Way too long to wait!  I've felt strongly that this baby needed to have a name and be addressed and referred to by the name for a while now, so I was relieved when I called the hospital and was able to get in earlier.  We've known we're having a little girl for about 10 days now and I just love calling her her name and hearing other people--especially the boys!--call her by name.

The boys were okay with the first news of having a baby sister.  No super excited reaction, no disappointed feelings either.  Funny there wasn't more of a reaction because Davy had been telling people at church that he was having a baby sister for months (apparently) before I was even pregnant.  And Eddy had loved pointing out the baby before but had to take a little while to process the fact that it was real somehow?  After a few days of calling the baby by name, though, both boys seem more matter-of-fact and excited about the baby.  My favorite is hearing Eddy talk about her.

I've just read over what is written above and realized I haven't actually said what name the baby has!  I guess I might still feel a little cautious announcing it, even knowing that we're positive about it.  Well, here we go anyway!  In memory of three great-grandmas (and me, too I guess) we will name our baby girl Eliza Bee.  Eliza for Elizabeth Lambourne (Collin's grandma), Elizabeth Dollahite (my grandma), my middle name (after my dad's mom) and Bee after my mom's mom.  Eliza Bee.  Spunky, meaningful, sweet.  Eddy's calling her Baby Liza.  Everyone else is calling her Eliza.  I'm okay with a nickname--maybe Lizzy or Liza or even Izzy.  Eliza Bee Lambourne.  I hope by the time we meet her she'll be familiar with the sound of her name. 

Eliza, we can't wait to meet you!

Things I love about Utah

In which I wax sometimes poetic sometimes ridiculous about my favorite parts of our visit so far.

The food:  Mom's home cooking, Katy's baking, Cafe Rio salads and burritos, Kneader's sandwiches and all you can eat French toast, Coney's frozen custard, Purple Turtle everything, Sonic slushies.

The mountains:  I have learned to love New England, but it is a temperate, mild kind of contentment.  I love the trees, the New England coastline and beach, the pretty little ponds.  However, the love I have for the mountains--real rocky mountains--is more deep and passionate.  They thrill my soul when I see the undulating colors of sunset or the big moon rising between their peaks.  Even the colors of fall in Boston just barely start to make my spirit sing.  I love my mountains!

The family:  I'm loving escaping to the corner of our basement bedroom to type this post while hearing the many voices of my family members chatting and laughing and arguing, sometimes punctuated by my own boys' voices.  I know that my kids are being entertained, fed constantly, entertaining in their turn, and just reveling in the love of so many.

The friends:  I have been keeping a little of a low profile among all my friends because I feel so relaxed about the time here, but I have loved getting together with a couple and knowing that I will have time to meet up with more.  I never truly appreciated friends until moving to MA where friends become substitute family.  I now know a little better how to be a friend and how to value friendship where given.  On the flip side, I'm so grateful for my friends who have been taking care of Collin while I'm away--I know at least on Sunday he'll have a good meal and company!

The shopping:  Oh, DI, how I missed you!!  And Savers, let's not forget about you.  And holy cow, Orem Target . . . you do it right.  Macey's Grocery, I would give anything to have you in Belmont instead of that annoying Shaw's.

The storytimes:  of Orem and Provo Libraries both.  I tell you I will never be able to go back to Belmont storytime after this.  I and my children have been spoiled beyond all reckoning with the personalities of the storytellers, the choice of topic and book, the puppet shows, the venue.  Also, what a way to get incredible authors to talk.  Shannon Hale speaking in the ballroom at Provo Library was the funniest, most insightful, most inspirational talk I've been to in a long time. 

An ultrasound:  If you ever need an ultrasound in Utah, go to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and ask for Richard.  He is the most hilarious and informative ultrasound tech I've ever had (and I've had a couple of hands worth of ultrasounds in my short life).  I'm surprised we got any good pictures or information on the baby because I was laughing so hard for most of it my tummy kept shaking and blurring the image.  But we did get at least the **most important** part of the ultrasound.  Say hello to our little girl who was being very shy and always had her arms over her face!

Sorry for anyone who is creeped out by ultrasound pictures!

Dressing up as Question Boy (one of the best books for our "Q" Week).

Eating as always.  The boys love their Y shirts.

Settling in for the Winter

The boys and I are taking our time settling in to my parents' house in Utah for the winter.  We'll be here til mid/late April while Collin is in busy season (for most, though not all of the time) and I am working on an internship for my Museum Studies program at Harvard Extension.  I got a great internship opportunity at Brigham Young University's Museum of Art with their religious art curator working on an exciting new exhibition including more works by Carl Bloch (they had a whole show just on him a few years ago) and some of Bloch's contemporary artists.

The boys love being here and hardly notice I'm gone to work.  This was part of the purpose of moving all the way out here, but still, I've had a few moments of feeling like my mom job is easily replaceable!  Silly Rachel.  Honestly, I do love having all the grandparents and aunts and uncles filling in so much of the love and attention that sometimes when in Boston I feel like Collin and I can't provide on our own!  Anyway, it's all working out well so far.  Eddy's back on track, after some issues, with potty training, and Davy's figuring out and taking advantage of getting lots of extra stories and privileges from so many eager-to-please adults. 

Yesterday, due to some snow storms moving down the valleys, my plans with a friend were postponed and I found myself bored (!) on Saturday with no ideas of how to entertain myself and the kiddos.  All the museums I looked up were closed for the weekend or closed being remodeled (except the MOA, but I wanted to save that special trip for another time).  So finally we settled on BYU campus for some shirts and brownies.  My sister, Erica, spontaneously got a Saturday off work because of some scheduling mix-ups, so we got a bonus surprise that probably won't happen again!  My dad insisted on getting the boys their shirts and Erica insisted on getting them the hats that they kept eying.  Then we had huge brownies and ran around the empty atrium and hallways of the WILK.  Eddy was so taken by his "bye an u" shirt that he has refused on threat of serious tantrum to take it off.  He wore it to sleep in last night and to church (under his button-down) this morning.  I'm not sure how I'll get it off to wash . . .

Eddy's a real singer.  I catch him singing songs to himself all the time (How much is that doggie in the window, Twinkle twinkle little star, etc.)  I love hearing him sing "Nephi's Courage" especially.  I don't know if you'll be able to catch it in this video, but if you are able to catch anything know it's 100% cuter in person!

Also, I just noticed (I'm so behind on my personal blog reading!) that my friends posted some of their family pics that they asked me to take this fall.  I was using their fancy camera, so I don't know if it really counts as I took them, but it was a fun outing with cool people to get some great shots!  Check it out over here.

First Baby Pictures

 

My friends let me practice on their darling Christmas baby.  I was so excited to try some newborn pictures--my first with my "real" camera.  It was quite the experiment.  I had several backdrop options to drape over the couch and all sorts of last minute lighting props for our little living room studio.  We had all the windows open to get as much natural winter light in as possible, but still had to pull pretty much every floor lamp from all over the house to get enough light.  It was so fun!  Oh, the more I look at these pictures the more excited I am for my own little sleepy newborn.  Even his wail at the end, signalling he was done posing like a doll, was so quiet and sweet.

 

Time at Home

Now that Christmas has come and gone and our candy cupboards are starting to be depleted, we've been having a wonderful time just being all home together.  It'll be too soon when Rachel and the boys take off for Utah.  I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid my laptop during the week so I can give my eyes as much of a break as possible.  Whenever I've managed that, we've had some fun times.  Here are a few stories:

 

Consistent with Rachel's family tradition, we all got some kind of sweetened cereal in our stocking.  During breakfast, Davy was eyeing my Cap'n Crunch and thoughtfully asked, "Daddy, why are his eyebrows on his hat?"

 

I got a Batman & Robin lego set from the Dollahites for Christmas and had a blast with the boys putting it together (twice now, actually -- it's become a hit with them and they've done pretty well with the smaller pieces when I tell them where to put it).

On one of her trips to Christmas Tree Shops in Somerville, Rachel found a new burger joint that she wanted to come back and check out.  We made a few returns in that area (and found Collin a nice Parker Jotter pen at Staples) and then hit Burgerdive for dinner.  We found out that it is the only one of its kind so far, though they are hoping to make it into a chain.  The atmosphere was really cool and the building was made with glass garage doors (see phot below, behind Rachel) that open up onto a patio in the summertime.  They played a good variety of oldies music, with some modern, and had a large variety of dipping sauces.  It reminded both Rachel and me of Purple Turtle in Utah, but more modern with a simpler/smaller menu.  They even had tator tots and really intriguing shake flavors.  One of Rachel's favorite things was the car they had outside that was dressed up like a burger.  The owner said it's actually registered and they plan on using it to make deliveries or for promotion activities.

On the same trip, Eddy had fallen asleep in the car and could not be roused -- so, like any good father, Daddy put him in the shopping cart.  He slept for the entire shopping trip like that.  The kid is too heavy to carry around for that long.  Trust me.

The morning after Christmas, Davy had his 4-year check-up with the doctor.  He had to get four shots that day.  He also hadn't had his blood drawn to be tested for lead since he was two, so we had to have that one done, too.  Five shots in one day was more than I would care to have, let alone sensitive Davy.  He was a brave boy and worked through it, so we decided it merited an ice cream trip . . . at 10 o'clock in the morning.  :)  Thank goodness Friendly's opens at 7am.

Here's Davy and Eddy having fun with a gift from Rachel's thoughtful visiting teachee: