Do any of you find yourselves always associating a song, movie, smell, or anything else with a specific memory? I'm sure I'm just overly sentimental, but it happens to me ALL the time!!
For example, the other night, Mark and Jeff were talking about their common taste for Norah Jones' music, and specifically her newest album, "Feels Like Home." I thought about how that album always reminds me (and probably always will) of my third trimester of pregnancy, before Cal was born. That's when the album had just come out, and Jeff bought it because he was given a gift certificate to Best Buy as a tip while he was tying balloons.
The album has pleasant associations for me because I would listen to it while I would drive to and from different stores to get things for the nursery, and to and from my orchestra class (which seemed so ridiculous for me to be doing when my tummy was so big). The music reminds me of being big, but still active and capable--happy in my anticipation. I think we were even listening to it the night before my water broke and we rushed to the hospital. It was the perfect album for that time in my life, I think especially because the sound and feeling of the album seem so warm and cozy, ...so homey, which makes the title of the album very fitting. It was the perfect music to be enjoying while Jeff and I prepared to welcome a new little person into our home.
In contrast, we bought Coldplay's latest album, "X&Y," right before we left for a huge road trip earlier that summer. The road trip included a two-week stay with my parents in Orem, Utah, then a drive to Breckenridge, CO for the Foster Family Reunion, then a week's stay in Denver. We listened to the album many times in the car. During that time, I was on and off trying to fight morning sickness! That's what "X&Y" reminds me of sometimes! Isn't that sad? It has no reflection on the quality of the music--I still love to listen to it. It just reminds me of being kind of sick...
As I mentioned before, I find that this phenomenon of having strongly associated memories happens to me all the time. It's especially true of music, smells,...and restaurants, oddly enough (I must not go out to eat enough...) Does this happen to anyone else? Is there a scientific reason for it?
Monday, July 10, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
CRAWLING!...and Other Things
I tell you, it doesn't get any better than watching the little body of your little boy, reaching his arms out and moving his legs forward, coordinating the whole forward-propelling mechanics of crawling. He's been getting better and better at it for two weeks now, and I think it makes him a happier kid because he can go almost anywhere he wants now.
It makes long car rides a little harder, as we experienced first-hand last Friday on the drive from Phoenix to Denver...It's just a long time to be buckled in for a squirmy, curious little man. We did stop at the Grand Canyon in the middle of the day. That was awesome, and it was a good break from being in the car. And, after a long day, we finally made it. We've had a fun weekend with Joy and Grant, Grandma, Grandpa and Megan. Also, Jeff had his first day of his first rotation today, which you will have to ask him about if you want to know the details. We love being here and anxiously await the time when all of the rest of you will arrive.
Sorry about the lack of pictures on this post...more to come, I promise.
It makes long car rides a little harder, as we experienced first-hand last Friday on the drive from Phoenix to Denver...It's just a long time to be buckled in for a squirmy, curious little man. We did stop at the Grand Canyon in the middle of the day. That was awesome, and it was a good break from being in the car. And, after a long day, we finally made it. We've had a fun weekend with Joy and Grant, Grandma, Grandpa and Megan. Also, Jeff had his first day of his first rotation today, which you will have to ask him about if you want to know the details. We love being here and anxiously await the time when all of the rest of you will arrive.
Sorry about the lack of pictures on this post...more to come, I promise.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Phoenix Foster Update
It seems I've been remiss in my posting duties. Between the family reunion, Jeff's boards, our trip to D.C., and getting ready to come out to Denver, I got a little sidetracked. This post is going to be all about catching up.
First--the Carson Reunion. All I can say is, thank goodness for family reunions and anything else that gives any of you guys an excuse to fly down to our neck of the woods. We had a great time seeing everyone that was there, and of course we missed all of you that couldn't make it.
I'm sure Margaret will have a large stack of photos from Carson that will be fun to look at when we all get together, but here are a few pictures from our own camera.
The Wednesday after we got back, Jeff took the COMLEX, the osteopathic board exam. Cal and I tried to celebrate and congratulate him, but what can you say after an 8-hour test? It's difficult to find the words, plus Jeff came home feeling pretty sick. The picture below is of our attempt. The week after that, Jeff took the USMLE, the alleopathic board exam. It's also eight hours long, but he said going in that it almost felt like an after-thought; he just wanted it to be over. What can I say? He's a genius. Or maybe he said that because we were leaving at 6 AM the next morning for Maryland...
Here are a few pics from that trip--the Maryland/D.C. trip. It was awesome. Just the break we needed--Jeff from school and me from not seeing any of my family. We stayed with my sister and her husband for 10 days, helping her with her new little baby, and sightseeing up the wazoo. (See below...) My brother also drove up from Virginia during one of the weekends we were there.
You probably won't need a whole lot of explanation for most of these pictures, but this is us in front of the White House. We tried to arrange a tour, but this is as close as we could get.
Above are Jeff at the WW II Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. Both are very cool, but this was the first time I'd seen the WWII Memorial. I was taken aback by how big it is and what a special feeling it has. It's so impressive to me how these types of memorials really do inspire such feelings of gratitude and respect--you really can't help but think about all of the servicemen who have died protecting our freedom. It made me realize how naive I am about it and how much I take it for granted.
Above is my brothah, Dale, and my hubby and me on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out to the Washington Memorial. Below, Cal and I are in Gettysburg, at a small memorial for the 20th Maine regiment.
Above, Jeff is trying to crack the Da Vinci code, and Cal's giving that look that says, "What's going on here, people? All we do is walk around a look at stuff all day. This has got to be some kind of a joke..."
This is Jeff in the back of Mt. Vernon, and then again in front of the Jefferson Memorial. He's one good-lookin' guy...that's why I took so many pictures of him.
This is a cool picture of Cal and mom wading in the Chesapeake Bay. He wasn't quite sure what to think about how cold it was, but he got used to it after awhile.
And there you have it. If you're still reading this, you are completely caught up on the Phoenix Fosters. We love you guys and we'll see you soon.
First--the Carson Reunion. All I can say is, thank goodness for family reunions and anything else that gives any of you guys an excuse to fly down to our neck of the woods. We had a great time seeing everyone that was there, and of course we missed all of you that couldn't make it.
I'm sure Margaret will have a large stack of photos from Carson that will be fun to look at when we all get together, but here are a few pictures from our own camera.
The Wednesday after we got back, Jeff took the COMLEX, the osteopathic board exam. Cal and I tried to celebrate and congratulate him, but what can you say after an 8-hour test? It's difficult to find the words, plus Jeff came home feeling pretty sick. The picture below is of our attempt. The week after that, Jeff took the USMLE, the alleopathic board exam. It's also eight hours long, but he said going in that it almost felt like an after-thought; he just wanted it to be over. What can I say? He's a genius. Or maybe he said that because we were leaving at 6 AM the next morning for Maryland...
Here are a few pics from that trip--the Maryland/D.C. trip. It was awesome. Just the break we needed--Jeff from school and me from not seeing any of my family. We stayed with my sister and her husband for 10 days, helping her with her new little baby, and sightseeing up the wazoo. (See below...) My brother also drove up from Virginia during one of the weekends we were there.
You probably won't need a whole lot of explanation for most of these pictures, but this is us in front of the White House. We tried to arrange a tour, but this is as close as we could get.
Above are Jeff at the WW II Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. Both are very cool, but this was the first time I'd seen the WWII Memorial. I was taken aback by how big it is and what a special feeling it has. It's so impressive to me how these types of memorials really do inspire such feelings of gratitude and respect--you really can't help but think about all of the servicemen who have died protecting our freedom. It made me realize how naive I am about it and how much I take it for granted.
Above is my brothah, Dale, and my hubby and me on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out to the Washington Memorial. Below, Cal and I are in Gettysburg, at a small memorial for the 20th Maine regiment.
Above, Jeff is trying to crack the Da Vinci code, and Cal's giving that look that says, "What's going on here, people? All we do is walk around a look at stuff all day. This has got to be some kind of a joke..."
This is Jeff in the back of Mt. Vernon, and then again in front of the Jefferson Memorial. He's one good-lookin' guy...that's why I took so many pictures of him.
This is a cool picture of Cal and mom wading in the Chesapeake Bay. He wasn't quite sure what to think about how cold it was, but he got used to it after awhile.And there you have it. If you're still reading this, you are completely caught up on the Phoenix Fosters. We love you guys and we'll see you soon.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
New Stages
See this kid? He's so delightfully cute and happy--I feel like the luckiest mom in the world (well, at least one of them...) It's so fun to watch him figure out that he can move himself around. He's been able to roll for awhile, but now he's so fast at it. He can also scoot, he can swivel on his belly, and he can hold his body up off the floor on his hands and knees (for a few seconds anyway). When he puts it all together, I have this feeling that there will be no stopping him. Right now, one of the most interesting things to play with is the handle to the drawer in our TV cabinet. He can pull it out several inches. As I sit and watch him, I get excited about this new beginning of exploration. Of course, I also know it's the end... of life as we know it (for Jeff and me...)
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Geoffy-Geoff
Check out these cool pics of one hot guy (the guy in the blue...)Speaking of the Jeffster, he's coming up on some pretty heavy board examinations...just seven more study days lie between him and the first one. Maybe, if you're taking the time to read this, you could keep him in your prayers so he doesn't get too burned out this week. We love you guys and can't wait to see you all this summer!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
On Motherhood
So, the bathtub is filthy again and the laundry is piling up...I don't seem to be able to check things off my "to do" list quite as quickly as I used to. After Cal was born and the post partum period ended, I had to figure out how to put some kind of routine back into my life. It became very obvious that my time is no longer my own--Cal needs it even more than I do. It's tricky trying to balance giving enough attention to him and doing enough around our home to keep it from falling apart. I think I figured out a system that works...for the time being.
It was inspired by the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation to make sure your baby has enough "Tummy Time" every day. Though his "Tummy Time" has now evolved into "Rolling Around the Floor Time," we still try to do it each day along with five other "times": Toy Time, Outside Time, Music Time, Story Time, and Silly Time. The idea is that none of these things needs to take very long, but I need to try to do each one every day. On some days, they work well with other things I need to get done. For example, on some days, "Outside Time" consists of going on a walk or going to the park, but going to the grocery store or to do the laundry (since it takes several trips back and forth to the laundry room) also counts. Sometimes "Music Time" finds Cal on my lap at the piano while I play primary songs for him. Other times, he sits or rolls on the floor during my cello lessons (silmultaneously taking care of Floor Time...and Toy Time).
The one exception is Silly Time, which is the most important and the most fun. That consists of trying to make him laugh, by whatever means possible. (Today he fell for the ole' Nozgul voice/peek-a-boo combination.)
The point of this system is to make sure that his needs are being met first, forcing me to prioritize whatever's left. I'm not perfect at it by any means, but it feels better knowing that it's possible to get some things done while still trying to create a stimulating, well-rounded day for him. It's true that your time is no longer your own after you have a baby, but it's not a bad thing. It's a welcome challenge that forces you to be less selfish...about your time, and, well...everything else. As a wise man once said, "Love those babies. In all eternity, they're only babies once!"
It was inspired by the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation to make sure your baby has enough "Tummy Time" every day. Though his "Tummy Time" has now evolved into "Rolling Around the Floor Time," we still try to do it each day along with five other "times": Toy Time, Outside Time, Music Time, Story Time, and Silly Time. The idea is that none of these things needs to take very long, but I need to try to do each one every day. On some days, they work well with other things I need to get done. For example, on some days, "Outside Time" consists of going on a walk or going to the park, but going to the grocery store or to do the laundry (since it takes several trips back and forth to the laundry room) also counts. Sometimes "Music Time" finds Cal on my lap at the piano while I play primary songs for him. Other times, he sits or rolls on the floor during my cello lessons (silmultaneously taking care of Floor Time...and Toy Time).
The one exception is Silly Time, which is the most important and the most fun. That consists of trying to make him laugh, by whatever means possible. (Today he fell for the ole' Nozgul voice/peek-a-boo combination.)
The point of this system is to make sure that his needs are being met first, forcing me to prioritize whatever's left. I'm not perfect at it by any means, but it feels better knowing that it's possible to get some things done while still trying to create a stimulating, well-rounded day for him. It's true that your time is no longer your own after you have a baby, but it's not a bad thing. It's a welcome challenge that forces you to be less selfish...about your time, and, well...everything else. As a wise man once said, "Love those babies. In all eternity, they're only babies once!"
Thursday, May 04, 2006
John Mayer and My Marriage
I was listening to John Mayer driving home from orchestra rehearsal the other night. I listened to most of the songs on his first album, but as usual, the other songs were interspersed with multiple listenings of track 8, "Not Myself." I haven't read into what made ole' Johnny Boy write the words he did, but in my own interpretation, this song speaks to me about being married...about one of the most beautiful and profound aspects of a functional and happy marriage, the feeling of being wanted and needed when you are less than perfect...or when you're being downright dispecable. It makes me think of the many times my own sweet husband has had to wait through my silly fears and insecurities, when it's hard for me to imagine that anyone would want to be married to me. Somehow, miracle of miracles, he must know that "I, in time, will come around; I always do..." I think he is so much more patient "waiting it out while I am someone else" than I am for him. I'm sure grateful for a great husband.
Suppose I said
I am on my best behavior
there are times
I lose my worried mind
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Suppose I said
Colors change for no good reason
words will go
From poetry to prose
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
And I, in time, will come around
I always do for you
Suppose I said
You're my saving grace?
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Suppose I said
I am on my best behavior
there are times
I lose my worried mind
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Suppose I said
Colors change for no good reason
words will go
From poetry to prose
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
And I, in time, will come around
I always do for you
Suppose I said
You're my saving grace?
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Check 'Em Out!
Last week's adventure was the ordering of my orchestra class t-shirts. What do you think? Nice, eh? They may seem kind of simple, but they needed to be something that the kids could wear in performance (meaning not too fancy...more classy and less cute), and that something that both boys and girls would feel comfortable wearing. These aren't the greatest pics, but the shirts are forest green and the writing is kind of metallic goldish.
I'm sure I'm making a bigger deal out of this than it really is, but I'm kind of proud of them (the shirts) because it's the first time I've ever tried to order t-shirts, but I wanted to do it because it felt like a good way to help the kids be more proud of the work they do in rehearsal and as a class, a team. I think it's great for the kids to feel like that "thing" they do after school once a week a cool thing to be a part of.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The Wonders of Callahan
Hey, All Fosters--Just wanted you to know that Cal had is 6-month checkup on Monday, and he weighs 17 lbs. 9 oz. (50th percentile) and is 26 1/2 inches long (51st percentile). He had four shots, but you'll be happy to know that he took it like a man, sort of...that is to say he did cry a bit, but he calmed down pretty fast and didn't get sick.
His favorite pass-time is looking at stuff and trying to grab it. He's getting r
eally good at it! He's pretty good at sitting up by himself, and now he rides in the front of the grocery cart when he goes grocery shopping with me. He's also an accomplished roller, but he's also figuring out how to hold his body up on his arms, and how to push off with his legs, so we figure crawling is just around the corner.
He likes being outside, crumpling paper, and wrestling with his dad. He also likes sitting in the sink and looking at himself in the mirror.
We miss all of you and wish you could be here to go through each of his new developments with us, but we will have to wait until this summer for you all to understand just how cute and how much fun he is. Thanks to Mark for the family blogging idea...I'm glad to have such an easy way to post baby pics, but also, Jeff and I have enjoyed reading all the family blogs so far and look forward to more!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Let's Start at the Very Beginning...
Dear Esteemed Readers,
The main purpose of this blog is to keep in better touch with my family and my husband's family (especially because we have a 6-month-old son we live far away from both sets of his grandparents and all of his cousins), but this record will also function as a journal in part. I have, to this point in my life, been an avid journal writer because I think it's really important to have a record of what happened, and it's also healthy to write your thoughts down on paper from time to time. However, my journal entries have become less and less frequent since the little guy, Cal, was born. This record may fill that void. We'll see.
In any case, some of these paragraphs may interest you and the others may not. I will apologize right now for the boring parts and also for ending so many sentences with ...'s, but that is just my writing style, so that is all the apology you'll get out of me. The beautiful thing about writing in a journal is that you make the rules, and my rule is that I write whatever I want. I think in real life, I might be a little hard to get to know at times (I don't like that about myself, but I'm afraid it's true...) That's why journal writing is so beautiful--you don't have to worry about saying the right thing, and if you make a mistake you can just cross it out, or backspace in this case.
About me...(in case you're not one of the afore mentioned family members...you could be someone who happened upon this blog by chance, or maybe one of my posterity reading this fifty years later...) I am first and foremost a wife and mother and Latter-Day Saint. However, I really enjoy playing the cello, and and I teach beginning cello and violin on the side. A lot of my ruminations may turn out to be about these things because they occupy most of my time. I also really enjoy crafty activities, which my husband would summarize as making cards, scrapbooking, and tying ribbons around things, but which also includes sewing, caligraphing, t-shirt designing, cake decorating, making posters and flashcards, and anything really. I'm not that great at any of it, I just enjoy it all.
My husband's name is Jeff. We've been married for 2 1/2 years and I really love him a lot. While our marriage definitely isn't perfect (no one's is...) I must admit that I married an extrememly intelligent man. In addition, he's a songwriting genius. He's also one of the kindest men I know, and one of the most genuine. These are just a few qualities (out of many more) that I had a hint of when we got married, but being married has made me appreciate them and him more and more. He probably wouldn't want me to write any of this, so I have to keep it short.
Cal, our baby, is 6 months old as I wrote before. Cal is short for Callahan Michael. We love having him in our family. Love it, love it, love it! He just gets cuter and cuter as the time goes by. I'll have to leave the rest of the description to pictures and movie clips, as they would do him more justice than I can, and also because I have to go...it sounds like he just woke up.
The main purpose of this blog is to keep in better touch with my family and my husband's family (especially because we have a 6-month-old son we live far away from both sets of his grandparents and all of his cousins), but this record will also function as a journal in part. I have, to this point in my life, been an avid journal writer because I think it's really important to have a record of what happened, and it's also healthy to write your thoughts down on paper from time to time. However, my journal entries have become less and less frequent since the little guy, Cal, was born. This record may fill that void. We'll see.
In any case, some of these paragraphs may interest you and the others may not. I will apologize right now for the boring parts and also for ending so many sentences with ...'s, but that is just my writing style, so that is all the apology you'll get out of me. The beautiful thing about writing in a journal is that you make the rules, and my rule is that I write whatever I want. I think in real life, I might be a little hard to get to know at times (I don't like that about myself, but I'm afraid it's true...) That's why journal writing is so beautiful--you don't have to worry about saying the right thing, and if you make a mistake you can just cross it out, or backspace in this case.
About me...(in case you're not one of the afore mentioned family members...you could be someone who happened upon this blog by chance, or maybe one of my posterity reading this fifty years later...) I am first and foremost a wife and mother and Latter-Day Saint. However, I really enjoy playing the cello, and and I teach beginning cello and violin on the side. A lot of my ruminations may turn out to be about these things because they occupy most of my time. I also really enjoy crafty activities, which my husband would summarize as making cards, scrapbooking, and tying ribbons around things, but which also includes sewing, caligraphing, t-shirt designing, cake decorating, making posters and flashcards, and anything really. I'm not that great at any of it, I just enjoy it all.
My husband's name is Jeff. We've been married for 2 1/2 years and I really love him a lot. While our marriage definitely isn't perfect (no one's is...) I must admit that I married an extrememly intelligent man. In addition, he's a songwriting genius. He's also one of the kindest men I know, and one of the most genuine. These are just a few qualities (out of many more) that I had a hint of when we got married, but being married has made me appreciate them and him more and more. He probably wouldn't want me to write any of this, so I have to keep it short.
Cal, our baby, is 6 months old as I wrote before. Cal is short for Callahan Michael. We love having him in our family. Love it, love it, love it! He just gets cuter and cuter as the time goes by. I'll have to leave the rest of the description to pictures and movie clips, as they would do him more justice than I can, and also because I have to go...it sounds like he just woke up.
Friday, April 21, 2006
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