So things are getting crazy around here . . .

what with about half or so of our apartment packed up in boxes as we prepare to move to Oregon. (I cannot even begin to express how excited we are for this move. Logan has been wonderful, truly. But we are ready for our next adventure.)

But even with all the craziness around here, we still find time for fun.

How can you NOT have fun with a little personality like Richie running around?

(Uh, be prepared. I'm about to flood you with pictures and a couple videos. If you hate looking at pictures of my adorable son, this is your stopping point.)

Richie was sick over Easter weekend, but he still managed to tear apart/find fun ways to play with his Easter basket. (Like throwing the paper grass on Daddy.)

He's recently developed a great love for "seeeel."

We try to get outside when Utah isn't forgetting that winter is over now.

Rich loves to explore everything!

But because it has been surprisingly cold (and snowy, even!!), we've had to play inside a lot lately.

But no worries, Rich can keep busy. (I'm not sure this kid knows how to be bored. He's always finding something to do.)

Did I mention that this boy loves to be outside? (Even on cold Sunday afternoons?)

(I love the look on Tyler's face in this last photo.)

And like I said, Rich has such a fun personality. Anyone up for some after-dinner dancing?

(Note: in both videos that follow, we may have been encouraging Rich's silly behavior, but I assure you all that he is the one who came up with and started the antics first. We only encouraged them to capture them on video. And because Rich was clearly having a good time.)

Anyway, that pretty much sums up our last couple of weeks.

Tyler takes the next actuarial exam on Saturday. Then we move two weeks from today!

A Day at the Park

Just 'cause we spent some time at the park today doesn't mean that today was a walk in the park for Richie.

The weather is finally starting to warm up around here, so we've been spending more time outside. And Richie LOVES it. He loves playing in the grass, walking and running on the sidewalk, and just exploring the world in general.

But, it seems like with the change in weather, Richie has come down with a little cold. Runny nose, coughing, fever, the whole bit. I thought that even though Richie wasn't feeling great, he might still enjoy getting outside and getting some sunshine. (After all, a little fresh air can really do some good.) I had originally intended for us to just go on a short walk, but when I got to the park, I thought how much Rich would enjoy getting out of the stroller and stretching his legs.

And while he wasn't his usual rambunctious self, Rich still managed to get around the park and explore a little bit.

But he also did a lot of sitting down and exploring. He was still curious, but he didn't quite have his normal energy.

(He just loves wood chips.)

But after we'd been there a while, I decided that it would probably be best to get Rich-boy home and try for a second nap. He didn't complain at all when I put him back in his stroller and headed home. I really think Rich was about done, energy-wise.

By the time we got home, Rich really was ready for some sleep. I put him in his crib and he talked/sang himself to sleep in just a few minutes.

So really, Rich did have a nice afternoon. Which was good because he had a tough evening. The poor boy refused to take any of his liquid tylenol for his rising fever. And it wasn't until I talked to my mother-in-law, who made the genius suggestion of trying chewable tylenol, that Rich got any meds in his system at all. (Seriously. I totally forgot that there was such a thing as chewable tylenol. And I really  was despairing, thinking Rich would just have to suffer--as would I with him--through the night. So thanks, Jill. I should have thought of that, but since I didn't, I'm glad and grateful that you did. Side note: Rich thought the medicine was candy, and wanted more. So, we'll have to make sure it's never within his reach. Otherwise he might follow in his mommy's own toddler footsteps and get at the "candy" when no one is looking.)

Here's to hoping the little boy feels better soon.

The Busy Boy Takes A Break

Richie, for those of you who haven't spent any time with him, is a very busy boy. He likes to investigate everything around him. He loves getting out of the house and going, well, anywhere.

And Rich especially loves going to the store--which is (usually) nice for me because it makes grocery shopping with a toddler just a little bit easier. Yesterday was no exception. When I asked Richie if he wanted to come with me to Wal Mart, he was excited and ready to go right away. So off we went to get some groceries.

However, we got going to Wal Mart a little later than I had originally hoped to go. As we left, I realized that by the time we got back, it would be time for Rich to eat some dinner and get ready for bed. So I decided to go as fast as I could with the shopping, then stop at Papa John's to pick up a pizza on our way home. (I know, not the healthiest meal, but one of my current pregnancy favorites.)

But hurrying the grocery shopping makes for one tired pregnant mama. By the time we got to Papa John's, I was hungry and tired. And so was Richie. So when the Papa John's workers told me that we would probably have to wait about 20 minutes for the pizza, I about died inside. How was I going to occupy Rich for that long? How would I keep him out of their kitchen area? (There was no door. It's just a cash register, then the kitchen, right there.) I groaned inwardly, but decided to just see how things went. I said a little prayer to gather my strength, and then sat down on the bench with my busy boy.

But the most surprising thing happened. Rich thought the bench was awesome. (He even said so a few times. "This is awesome!") And he sat beside me the whole time we waited for our pizza. Sure he was noisy and screamed a few times (out of joy, he rarely screams for any other reason than excitement), but  he didn't try to climb off the bench even once.

This was a miracle. For me at least. I was so tired, and it was so nice to just sit by my boy as he wiggled on the bench. What made him be so good for me? I don't know, but I sure am grateful that he was. Instead of feeling frazzled, I just got to just enjoy being out with my Rich-boy. I know it's just a little thing, that he was so stationary (for Richie, that is), but it was so, so nice.

So, even though you won't remember this, my Rich-boy, thanks for being so good to me yesterday.

Even Water Has a Smell

I remember the morning after Rich was born, I was full of so many different emotions. After all, he'd just come five weeks early. He was healthy and doing well, for which I was thankful. But he wasn't coming home with us, and that made me so sad. I cried and cried and cried when I thought about leaving my little baby at the hospital. (I'm sure my hormones didn't help, either.) 

But the feeling that was so prominent that morning, was that I missed Rich. I missed having him with me all the time. Safe inside me, protected from the world, still shielded and cared for by my body. And frankly, I felt a little gypped. I was supposed to have a month more with him. More time for him to grow. I was supposed to get (even) bigger, and (even more) uncomfortable. And I remember thinking, "Man, I can't wait to have this chance again, to have my baby with me, to be pregnant again." (Those hormones are killer, I'm telling ya.) 

Well. I'm here to say right now, on the record, so that I don't forget this the next time we are thinking about having a baby, that pregnancy (at least for me) is hard. I think that I really really forgot what a hard time I had with Rich.  

And one of the hardest things for me is that EVERYTHING has a smell. And every smell is so overwhelming. 

And this time around, one of the hardest smells that I have to deal with every day is the smell of the water here in Logan. 

Now, let's be clear. Before I got pregnant, I probably bragged about how good our water is. How fresh. How it comes from an aquifer and is one thing that the city of Logan is very proud of. (I mean, you should see our water bill.)

Maybe it's the winter pollution that we can't seem to shake. Maybe it's the fact that we're so close to the industrial part of Logan. But the water that comes out of our faucets, sits in our toilets, pours out of the shower heads, all smells. And it smells bad. 

Bad bad bad. 

Like, it's made me throw up many times. Too many times to count.

Showering is no longer a relaxing getaway. It's a how-long-can-I-stand-the-smell-combined-with-suffocating-heat-before-I-hurl adventure. Every time. 

Thankfully, when my mom was visiting, she had the foresight to buy us some water bottles. You know, for emergency preparedness. 

Well, I'm calling the smell of our water an emergency. 

I mean, I've had bad water before. I grew up in Texas. Where you could taste the lake the water came from (and not in a good way). 

But this--is torture.

I really think that once things warm up it'll improve. (The bitter winter cold seems to have trapped the pollution smells into the snow and city.) But till spring and summer come to my rescue, I'll be sticking to my bottled water. And holding my breath whenever I have to deal with Logan water. 

I'm not a big fan of soda

unless it is filtered through lots of ice.

And those giant ice cubes just don't cut it. 

With my pregnancy hormones being all wacky, I've had a hard time keeping drinks down (especially water). And drinks that are too sweet only serve to further upset my stomach. 

But sometimes, the carbonation in soda seems to help calm things down. However, soda can be too strong if it isn't filtered through some good-sized ice. (Good size meaning small. Pebble-sized. Is that what the ice I like is called? Pebble ice? That's what Tyler calls it.)

Anyway. Last night, around 10 PM, I had a minor emotional meltdown. Things have been hard (they are getting better though), and it all just hit me. I started crying and trying to explain what all was bothering me to Tyler. He calmly listened and rubbed my back through it all, being as understanding and helpful as he could. As I finally started to relax, I turned to him and said, "All I want is some tiny ice." 

Tyler, being the great guy he is, assured me that he would check at the store for some ice for me when he went to pick up some milk and Sprite. 

But stores don't sell the good kind of ice. I knew this, and Tyler knew this. So, I had no actual expectation for any tiny ice. 

A few minutes after I calmed down, Tyler headed out to the store. He was gone for a long time. So long, in fact, that I was starting to get worried. Just as I was about to enter panic mode, Tyler arrived home--with the ice I was wanting. 

As it turns out, Tyler had gone to the store, then made his way out to Sonic to pick up some ice. (Sonic ice, in case you've never had it, is the best kind of ice. It's tiny and porous and perfect.) As it happens, he arrived after Sonic had closed for the night, but managed to catch someone before they left. Happily, Tyler had some cash on him so that he could pay for the ice even though the computers were already powered down. 

And Tyler returned home the hero. 

I know this is a little thing. But it really meant so much to me. I started tearing up when I saw what he had done. I told Tyler it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. And in the moment, it really felt like it. 

Halloween 2012

The longer I wait to actually post some pictures of Halloween, the less likely it is to actually happen.

I even started a Halloween post like, a week ago, but then I never got around to finishing it. So, I'm just going to insert it here, less than two weeks later. And since I am so late, I'll just flood you guys with pictures. Deal? Deal.

Tyler loves Halloween. He always has. But since we've had to be a little extra careful with our funds this year, we didn't get to go all out Halloween-style. (We're saving that for Christmas. Well, as much as we can, at least.)

But, sometimes, grandparents like to see their grandkids celebrating the holidays, so my mom helped us splurge a little to transform our son into THE HULK!

Have you ever seen the Incredible Hulk look so adorable? I haven't.

Unfortunately, the Hulk didn't care so much for his hat. So even though he looked totes adorb with it on, I didn't force him to wear it.

After all, I made him wear his costume all day.

In the morning. (Rich likes to cuddle for a few minutes after waking up. Yes, I did put his costume on him almost immediately.)

Running errands.

Picking up some Halloween candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters.

Richie's favorite part of Halloween though, was probably the time he got to spend playing outside. Halloween day was beautiful and warm; so I decided that Rich/the Incredible Hulk needed to get some play time where he could just roam around freely.

And he had a blast!

He explored everything! He was fascinated by the sticks and leaves and grass. He loved the bark on the trees. Even the concrete was interesting to him.

And of course, he managed to look as handsome as ever.

But what Halloween is complete without some trick-or-treating? Since Rich is a little stranger-shy right now, we decided to only visit family.

But he loved it! (Especially the Thurgood's dog. Apparently, Rich loves dogs.)

So, our Halloween was a little low-key this year. But it was still awesome!

A Close Call

Last night, I finally got Tyler to watch the first episode of Sherlock with me. And as I was getting ready for the day, I thought about one scene in particular--Sherlock was commenting that the state of the murdered woman's wedding indicated the health of her marriage. Because her wedding ring was dirty, he deduced that her marriage was an unhappy one.

So, because I have a happy marriage, I decided to give my ring a good cleaning. After all, it always looks so sparkly afterward. (I do clean it frequently, by the way. It's not like my ring was dirty. I just thought of how pretty it always looks after a little polishing up, and went for it.)

But, horror of horrors, as I was cleaning my ring, it slipped out of my fingers, and seemingly in slow motion hit the counter and bounced into the heating duct on the floor of our bathroom. (Why, Utah? Why are there grates on your floors? This doesn't happen in Texas. Right, Texans? At least, I never noticed this until I moved to Utah.)

Now, because of the strange placement of air ducts in our apartment, I have a few of the vents strategically closed to prevent the upstairs from becoming too stuffy and the downstairs from being too cold.

Luckily, our bathroom air duct is one of my strategically closed vents. So although my ring fell into the air duct, the vents were closed, and there it lay--on the closed vents, beneath the grate covering the air duct.

So I motioned Tyler over, almost panicking, and not sure what to do. At this point, I was sure that I was about to lose my wedding ring forever. I couldn't remember if our bathroom vents open and close easily (some of our vents are super stiff, others open and close with a brush of our fingers), and I knew that if I wasn't careful, I could accidentally open up those vents, and my ring could tumble into oblivion.

I started searching for a paperclip, thinking that if I hooked my ring just right, I could pull it  up through the grate safely. As I was ransacking our dresser for a paperclip, Tyler (the wise) suggested I grab some tweezers.

After a moment's pause, I realized that this was indeed a genius idea, absolutely superior to my paperclip thoughts. Especially because there were some tweezers basically sitting in front of my face.

Together, we went back into the bathroom, and Tyler stabilized the vents while I rescued my wedding ring, Operation-style.

I put my ring back on and just sat there, practically shaking and near tears. Tyler, in his attempt to be comforting, said, "It's ok. We're still married." I responded with something to the effect of, "Yeah, but I almost lost my ring!"

And Tyler, again trying for comfort, said, "You would have found something else that you liked."

He was absolutely, 100% serious! I could not believe what I was hearing, so I tried to clarify. And indeed, his thought was that if my ring had been gone forever, we would have just replaced it with something else.

I just--I mean, how do you explain an (irrational??) attachment to an object? I was speechless. And then I rebelled. No way. This ring is an antique. It's one-of-a-kind. Irreplaceable. I actually might have died if we had lost my ring. I would, at the very least, never fully recover.

I'm not totally crazy, right? Is this a woman thing? Or is this just a me thing? (This is where you guys respond and tell me what your wedding rings mean to you. And make me feel better about how attached I am to this object that I can't take with me into the next life--but might try to smuggle in with me anyway. I'm only mostly kidding about that last part.)

It's probably two or three hours since almost losing my ring, and I still feel a little in shock at the horror that almost befell us (me).

But all's well that ends well.

And I'm never opening that air duct again.

Days Off, Family Style

I love it when Tyler has a day off. This is so rare these days, what with school, work, and study for Exam P.

But today is USU's Fall Break. And Tyler doesn't have work. Or homework. (Although he does have to do some studying. And grade some quizzes.)

What this means for us is that we can squeeze in some family stuffs.

So we are!

Beginning with a beautiful walk this morning down to Center Street to check out some of the older (and cooler) houses out here. These homes really have some personality!

I mean, check 'em out!

I just love the colors on this home. I don't know that I would want my future home to be this colorful, but there are lots of pretty details here. And I love that front door. And some of those windows.

And this house! Check out that witch tower in the front. I'm not entirely sure what it is I like so much about this house. I just think it's cool. 

Tyler really liked the double doors on this house. I think that round-about (or whatever it's called) in the front yard is interesting. 

And HOLY COLUMNS! I think that there are actually eight huge columns in the front. Along with all the other columns on the porch. (I love that big open porch.) I don't think this picture does justice to how big those columns are.

I think you'll have to click on this picture to make it bigger so you can see all the different details on this house. The colors, the woodwork, even some of the windows are unique (I think--I might be remembering wrong). Still, it definitely has charm.

I thought all the lattice-work was really interesting on this house. And again, a nice big porch, interesting windows and doors. (And a lovely, big lawn.)

This next house was, by far, my favorite.

Gorgeous. This house is all about the details. Nothing is flat or boring. And it looks like it's probably got four levels to it. (Houses in Utah are tricky. Most of them have a basement floor.) Of all of these houses, I think I would most like to tour this one. I'm sure that the inside is as lovely as the outside.

And this house was the first hospital in Logan. Cool, right? Check out the plaque on the gate outside this house:

And finally, the last interesting house on our walk home--it's not actually on Center Street. I don't remember exactly where it was. Maybe a block away? Anyway, again with those witch towers.

So interesting right? You just don't see houses like these everywhere. I really wish I could know the history of each house. Who built it and when, why they designed it the way they did, do they still live there, etc.

But really, the best part of this walk was this moment here:

Sometimes, when we walk, Rich reaches out for his dad's hand. And I love it. Rich holds his daddy's hand while we walk along; he's just content to be outside with us.

Anyway. Good family stuffs accomplished.